Taiwan Becomes First in Asia to Legalise Same-Sex Marriages

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party supports the change.

File Image used for representational purpose. (Phtot: AP)

Taiwan's constitutional court declared on Wednesday that same-sex couples have the right to legally marry, the first such ruling in Asia.

The court, known as the Judicial Yuan, said current marriage laws were "in violation of both the people’s freedom of marriage ... and the people’s right to equality", and it gave two years for legal amendments to allow same-sex marriage.

If relevant laws are not amended or enacted within the said two years, two persons of the same sex, who intend to create the said permanent union, shall be allowed to have their marriage registration effectuated.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights activists had harboured high hopes their years of campaigning for same-sex marriage would win the court's backing.

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party that swept national elections in the self-ruled island in 2016 supports the change.

The ruling clearing the way for same-sex marriage is the first in Asia, where socially conservative attitudes largely hold sway.

But Taiwan has a reputation as a beacon of liberalism in the region.

Sexual orientation is an immutable characteristic that is resistant to change. Furthermore, the freedom of marriage for two persons of the same sex, once legally recognised, will constitute the collective basis, together with opposite-sex marriage, for a stable society

Taiwan, which China regards as a renegade province, has a famous annual gay pride parade that showcases the vibrancy of its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.