Why Taiwan is likely to set a first in Asia by legalising same-sex marriages
Tolerance among large number of Buddhists, Christians on the island and widely established feminist movement have helped gain acceptance for move, analysts say
Su Shan and her partner are raising five-month-old twins together, but only one of the women is their legal parent. That could soon change as Taiwan appears likely to become the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage.
“Now, if something happens to the child, the other partner is nothing but a stranger,” said Su, a 35-year-old software engineer in Taipei. By contrast, either partner in a legally recognised marriage could make legal, medical and educational decisions, she said.
Taiwanese lawmakers are working on three bills in support of marriage equality, one of which is already listed for review and could be passed within months. Same-sex marriage also has the prominent support of President Tsai Ing-wen, the first woman who hold the post.
About 80 per cent of Taiwanese between ages 20 and 29 support same-sex marriage, said Tseng Yen-jung, spokeswoman for the group Taiwan LGBT Family Rights Advocacy , citing local university studies. Taiwan’s United Daily News found in a survey taken four years ago that 55 per cent of the public supported same-sex marriage, with 37 per cent opposed.
We go to the market with our kids and people say ‘how cute’. When they find there are two mamas, they feel intrigued
That is seen as a reflection of Taiwan’s ready acceptance of multi-party democracy and other inclusive attitudes, as well as the fact that Taiwan’s 23 million people largely follow Buddhism and traditional Chinese religions that take no strong positions on sexual orientation or gay marriage.
