Same-sex couples tied the knot in emotional scenes in Taiwan on Friday, the first legal marriages in Asia hailed by activists as a social revolution for the region, Euronews <a href="https://www.euronews.com/2019/05/24/taiwan-celebrates-asia-s-first-same-sex-marriages-as-couples-tie-knot">reports</a>.
Taiwan&#8217;s parliament passed a bill last week that endorsed same-sex marriage, although the measure could complicate President Tsai Ing-wen&#8217;s bid for re-election next year.
More than 160 same-sex couples married on Friday, according to government data, after years of heated debate over marriage equality that has divided the self-ruled and democratic island.
Twenty couples queued to tie the knot at a marriage registration office in downtown Taipei, where rainbow flags were on display alongside stacks of government-issued, rainbow-themed registration forms.
&#8220;I feel very lucky that I can say this out loud to everyone: I am gay and I am getting married,&#8221; said Shane Lin, a 31-year-old baker who with his partner were the first couple to register in the Taipei office.
&#8220;I am extremely proud of my country Taiwan,&#8221; said a tearful Lin.
The euphoria and emotion among the island&#8217;s gay community was on display as newly-wed couples walked down a rainbow-coloured carpet in a nearby park, watched by families and friends as well as diplomats and reporters.
<h2>Ripple effect</h2>
Chi Chia-wei, an activist who brought a case to Taiwan&#8217;s constitutional court that led to a landmark court ruling on same-sex marriage in 2017, congratulated the couples.
&#8220;This is the right that we deserved from a long time ago,&#8221; he said, draped in a giant rainbow flag that symbolises the colours of the international gay movement.
&#8220;As a beacon in Asia, I hope Taiwan&#8217;s democracy and human rights could have a ripple effect on other countries in Asia,&#8221; he added.
Supporters also celebrated on social media, sharing posts with the rainbow colors of the gay rights movement.
Friday&#8217;s celebration followed a years-long tussle over marriage equality that culminated in the 2017 declaration by the constitutional court giving same-sex couples the right to marry, and setting a deadline of May 24 for legislation.
Marriage equality was backed by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), but the measure could complicate President Tsai&#8217;s bid for a second term in elections next year. Conservative groups that oppose same-sex marriage said the legislation disrespected the people&#8217;s will.
Same-sex marriage is not recognised by Hong Kong and neighbouring China, which regards Taiwan as a wayward province to be returned to the fold by force, if necessary. It marks another milestone in Taiwan&#8217;s development as one of the region&#8217;s more liberal societies, in contrast with China&#8217;s strongly autocratic government.
Across the strait, many Chinese congratulated Taiwan&#8217;s newlywed same-sex couples on platforms such as Weibo, China&#8217;s version of Twitter.
&#8220;For once I thought the legalization of same-sex marriage in Taiwan would impact on the Chinese government, making them heed our appeals,&#8221; one Weibo user said.
&#8220;But then I found the shock actually makes the government more scared, stepping up their crackdown on us.&#8221;

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Taiwan celebrates Asia’s first same-sex marriages as couples tie knot

Thousands of people marched through Belfast Saturday to demand the recognition of same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland, the only region of the United Kingdom where it does not have legal status, <a href="https://www.voanews.com/a/belfast-marchers-call-for-same-sex-marriage-rights/4923418.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_medium=twitter">VOA</a> reports.
Attempts to legislate for same-sex marriage have been blocked by the Democratic Unionist Party, a key ally of British Prime Minister Theresa May, despite opinion polls in recent years showing most in the region are in favor.
Sara Canning, the partner of journalist and LGBT rights campaigner Lyra McKee who was killed in April, led the march alongside a number of gay and lesbian couples. Canning said that she and McKee had been planning to marry.
“We pay our taxes, we are governed by the same laws, why should we not be afforded the same rights in marriage” as the rest of the United Kingdom, said Canning, who was wearing a “Love Equality” T-shirt. Protesters waved rainbow flags and placards saying “Love is a human right.”
Protesters called on May’s government to bypass the DUP and introduce legislation in the British parliament in Westminster. The Northern Ireland power-sharing government has been frozen for two years because of disagreement between the DUP and the largest Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein.
“If Stormont is incapable of delivering equality for people here, then it is the responsibility of the Westminster to end discrimination against the LGBT community,” Amnesty International spokesman Patrick Corrigan said.

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Belfast Marchers Call for Same-Sex Marriage Rights

Taiwan’s legislature has passed a law allowing same-sex marriage in a first for Asia, <a href="https://www.voanews.com/a/taiwan-lawmakers-allow-same-sex-marriage/4921301.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_medium=twitter">VOA</a> reports.
The vote Friday allows same-sex couples full legal marriage rights, including in areas such as taxes, insurance and child custody.
Taiwan’s Constitutional Court in May 2017 said the constitution allows same-sex marriages and gave parliament two years to adjust laws accordingly.
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Taiwan’s acceptance of gay and lesbian relationships began in the 1990s when leaders in today’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party championed the cause to help Taiwan stand out in Asia as an open society. Although claimed by China as its own territory, Taiwan is a self-governing democracy with a vibrant civil society.

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Taiwan Lawmakers Allow Same-Sex Marriage

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Voters in Taiwan passed a referendum asking that marriage be restricted to one man and one woman, a setback to LGBT couples hoping their island will be the first place in Asia to let same-sex couples share child custody and insurance benefits, <a href="https://www.voanews.com/a/taiwanese-reject-legalizing-same-sex-unions-in-referendum/4672999.html">VOA news</a> reports.
The vote on Saturday, organized by Christian groups that make up about 5 percent of Taiwan&#8217;s population and advocates of the traditional Chinese family structure, goes against a May 2017 Constitutional Court ruling. Justices told legislators then to make same-sex marriage legal within two years, a first for Asia where religion and conservative governments normally keep the bans in place.
Although the ballot initiative is advisory only, it is expected to frustrate lawmakers mindful of public opinion as they face the court deadline next year. Many legislators will stand for re-election in 2020.
&#8220;The legislature has lots of choices on how to make this court order take effect,&#8221; said referendum proponent Chen Ke, a Catholic pastor in Taiwan and an opponent of same-sex marriage.
Ruling party lawmakers backed by President Tsai Ing-wen had proposed legalizing same-sex marriage in late 2016, but put their ideas aside to await the court hearing.
Opposition to same-sex marriage crested after the court ruling. Opponents have held rallies and mobilized votes online.
Courts will still consider local marriage licensing offices in violation of the law by May 2019, if they refuse same-sex couples, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson said last week.
&#8220;The referendum is a general survey, it doesn&#8217;t have very strong legal implications,&#8221; said Shiau Hong-chi, professor of gender studies and communications management at Shih-Hsin University in Taiwan. &#8220;One way or another it has to go back to the court.&#8221;
Voters approved a separate measure Saturday calling for a &#8220;different process&#8221; to protect same-sex unions. It&#8217;s viewed as an alternative to using the civil code. A third initiative, also approved, asked that schools avoid teaching LGBT &#8220;education.&#8221;
Amnesty International told the government it needs to &#8220;deliver equality and dignity.&#8221;
&#8220;This result is a bitter blow and a step backwards for human rights in Taiwan,&#8221; Amnesty&#8217;s Taiwan-based Acting Director Annie Huang said. &#8220;However, despite this setback, we remain confident that love and equality will ultimately prevail.&#8221;
Taiwanese also elected candidates from the China-friendly opposition Nationalist Party to a majority of mayoral and county magistrate posts, reversing the party&#8217;s losses in 2014.
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Taiwanese Reject Legalizing Same-Sex Unions in Referendum

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It has been a year since Australians voted to legalize gay marriage in a historic postal ballot. Almost 5,500 same-sex weddings have taken place in the past year since marriage in Australia was redefined as &#8220;a union of two people,&#8221; despite fierce opposition from religious and conservative groups, <a href="https://www.voanews.com/a/australia-marks-1-year-anniversary-of-landmark-gay-marriage-vote/4663522.html">reports VOA News</a>.
Sixty-two percent of Australians supported same-sex marriage in a nonbinding postal vote.
Ban-Foo Leong marched with his partner in Sydney to celebrate the historic result a year ago.
&#8220;It felt good that there was such huge support not from just the gay community but from wider communities. Time to scream and shout, you know. This is what we have been waiting for 21 years and that we could finally do it and be on equal terms with everyone else,&#8221; he said.
The law in Australia allowed Heather Richards and Sass Willows to marry just two weeks before Sass would die of cancer.
&#8220;I am so thankful and grateful and blessed — all of those things — that we were able to make it by just a few days rather than miss out by just a few days. So, yes, now I can still say that Sass was my wife. I feel equal to other people who have lost their spouse,&#8221; said Richards.
One of Australia&#8217;s most high-profile same-sex weddings was that of James Brechney and Stuart Henshall, who hope their ceremony at this year&#8217;s Sydney gay and lesbian Mardi Gras will help younger people feel comfortable with their sexuality.
&#8220;If we had a public wedding and it helped one kid be more accepting of who they are, and look at it and go &#8216;Oh, I am OK, and I will be OK one day,&#8217; then it is all worth it,&#8221; said Henshall.
The law, though, divided Australia. While almost 8 million people voted in support of same-sex marriage, about 5 million opposed the reform. Paul Kennedy from the Coalition For Marriage said it was morally wrong.
&#8220;There is no other institution that is as important as marriage anthropologically, biologically, historically that defines the relationship that best nurtures a man and a woman and their capacity to raise children,&#8221; he said.
But the reform has been embraced by the gay community. It&#8217;s estimated that 10 percent of same-sex couples in Australia have married since the law was changed.
The bill passed federal parliament on December 7, 2017, and became law the following day. Campaigners say it has been one of the most significant social changes in recent Australian history.
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