Feature image via HRC’s Twitter
In 2017, Taiwan’s constitutional court ruled in favor of marriage equality and gave parliament two years to get it done. Yesterday, they did! After debating three different bills to legalize same-sex marriage — taking into account that 67% of Taiwanese voters cast their ballots to reject same-sex marriage in a referendum last year — lawmakers voted to pass the most progressive one (the one that didn’t refer marriage as “same-sex family relationships” or “same-sex unions”). When Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen signs the bill, it will become law. Taiwan becomes the first state or country in Asia to pass marriage equality legislation.
Despite staunch conservative lobbying and opposition to the vote in recent months tens of thousands of LGBTQ+ people gathered in the streets in the rain outside of parliament to await the decision.
On May 17th, 2019 in #Taiwan, #LoveWon. We took a big step towards true equality, and made Taiwan a better country. 🏳️🌈
— 蔡英文 Tsai Ing-wen (@iingwen) May 17, 2019
BREAKING: Legislators just passed article 4, which means #Taiwan just legalized same-sex marriage and will be implemented on May 24th#First in #Asia#LGBT #LoveWins pic.twitter.com/FDjWNBAxru
— Taiwan Equality Campaign 彩虹平權大平台 (@equallovetw) May 17, 2019
#LoveWins! @HRC congratulates all the advocates who have worked so long & hard for this incredible victory, making #Taiwan 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞-𝐬𝐞𝐱 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞! Special shout out to #HRCGlobal partners Jennifer Lu & Benson Lee. pic.twitter.com/DyAMUUZUnF
— HRC (@HRC) May 17, 2019
Love Wins in Taiwan.
Daily Brief: https://t.co/PMRjFJgdOd pic.twitter.com/2OcUpOohWp
— Human Rights Watch (@hrw) May 17, 2019
Breaking news 🏳️🌈 #Taiwan becomes the first in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage. Just in time for #IDAHOBIT https://t.co/P2dlFY7zQc pic.twitter.com/kW1axD8RKf
— Stonewall (@stonewalluk) May 17, 2019
Before and after: Gay marriage supporters wait outside Parliament in Taipei and then celebrate the news that lawmakers voted to approve gay marriage.
The vote took place on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia #IDAHOT
📷 @samafp pic.twitter.com/LkhpLD71Gy
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) May 17, 2019
Once the rain finally stopped, Equal Love Taiwan snapped a photo of the clouds breaking open to reveal a literal rainbow. Gay couples will be able to begin getting married on May 24th!
