So much has happened this past week!
Many people all over Taiwan were rejoicing over a revolutionary court ruling passed yesterday (24th May).
According to BBC News, Taiwan’s top court have ruled that existing laws only allowing marriage between opposite sexes to be unconstitutional and violated the rights of same-sex couples to equality.
This landmark ruling has paved the way for Taiwan to become the first nation in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage and has given parliament two years to amend current laws or pass new ones.
Source: Fusion
According to a press statement released by Taiwan’s constitutional court, “disallowing two persons of the same sex to marry, for the sake of safeguarding basic ethical orders” is considered “different treatment” that has “no rational basis.”
The statement also read that the current laws against same-sex marriage were, “in violation of both the people’s freedom of marriage and the people’s right to equality.”
Source: Fusion
Although this holds positive prospects for the LGBTQ community in Taiwan, it’s still unclear how far the parliament will go.
Currently, the LGBTQ community and their allies hope the existing marriage laws will be amended to include same-sex marriage, which would allow them the same rights as straight couples to adopt, pass down inheritances, and make decisions for each other during medical emergencies.
Source: Fusion
However, many think that although same-sex marriage will probably be legalised, they will not be given completely equal treatment compared to their straight counterparts.
Taiwanese conservatives opposing the new ruling have promised to persuade parliament not to pass any new laws allowing same-sex couples to marry, as they argue that this decision will affect society.
As of now though, with Taiwan’s current president openly supporting LGBTQ rights, it seems very likely that this nation will be the first in Asia to legalise gay marriage soon! #Loveislove
Also read: Taiwanese Boss Walks His Employee Down The Aisle In Same-Sex Wedding
