Inside this exceptional Victorian home overlooking Killiney Bay
Inside this exceptional Victorian home overlooking Killiney Bay

Sarah Gill

My Career: Head of 3Arena Private Members Club Virginia Fortune
My Career: Head of 3Arena Private Members Club Virginia Fortune

Sarah Gill

6 wines to try this summer, according to an expert
6 wines to try this summer, according to an expert

Michelle Lawlor

The IMAGE staffers share what’s on their summer wishlists
The IMAGE staffers share what’s on their summer wishlists

Sarah Gill

Small bathroom ideas we’re nabbing from these Irish homes
Small bathroom ideas we’re nabbing from these Irish homes

Megan Burns

Here are the interiors trends we’ll all be searching this summer (and how to shop them)
Here are the interiors trends we’ll all be searching this summer (and how to shop...

Megan Burns

Owner and head chef of Restaurant Chestnut Rob Krawczyk shares his life in food
Owner and head chef of Restaurant Chestnut Rob Krawczyk shares his life in food

Sarah Gill

Women in Sport: Professional Golfer Anna Foster
Women in Sport: Professional Golfer Anna Foster

Sarah Gill

IMAGE staffer Jennifer Sheerin’s wellness routine balances busy days with carving out space for herself
IMAGE staffer Jennifer Sheerin’s wellness routine balances busy days with carving out space for herself

Jennifer Sheerin

This three-storey Dalkey home has the most beautiful sloping gardens
This three-storey Dalkey home has the most beautiful sloping gardens

IMAGE

Image / Editorial

Taiwan becomes first place in Asia to legalise gay marriage


By Grace McGettigan
17th May 2019
Taiwan becomes first place in Asia to legalise gay marriage

Today is International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia – and Taiwan’s parliament has celebrated in the best way by finally legalising gay people’s right to marry


Equality campaigners in Taiwan are celebrating today as gay marriage is legalised by parliament. The island, which is officially part of China but runs its own government, is the first place in Asia to make such a move.

The news comes two years after Taiwan’s court ruled same-sex couples had a constitutional right to marry. Back in 2017, the court said parliament must pass the law by Friday, May 24 of this year.

The vote

With the court’s deadline looming closer, Taiwan’s government were under pressure to make a decision; to vote for one of three bills.

One bill suggested using the term ‘same-sex union’, another other said, ‘same-sex family relationships’. In the end, they voted for the third bill; the only one to use the term ‘marriage’ and grant limited adoption rights.

As the bills were being debated, more than 20,000 campaigners for marriage equality gathered outside Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan (despite the pouring rain). According to the country’s news channel Focus Taiwan, the crowds chanted, “We want to get married! Go Legislative Yuan”.

Following the vote, President Tsai Ing-wen tweeted, “On May 17 in Taiwan, love won. We took a big step towards true equality, and made Taiwan a better country.”

What’s more, equality campaigners across the globe are hopeful that more Asian governments will follow suit.

Photo: Wiki Commons


Read more: The Queen’s cousin will be the first royal to enter into gay marriage

Read more: Celebrations in India as gay sex is legalised after 157 years

Read more: Halima Aden becomes first model to wear a burkini in Sports Illustrated