Two amendments to Taiwan’s marriage laws that would legalise same-sex marriage passed a first reading in the country’s Legislature this week.
Taiwan is inching closer to becoming the first country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage as legislators work on three bills that support marriage equality.
On Wednesday, two bills that offer same-sex couples the right to get married and allow gay couples to adopt children passed first reading in the legislative Yuan, a third is expected to pass Friday.
The country's ruling Democratic Progressive Party, opposition party Kuomintang, and Taiwan's third largest party the New Power Party have all proposed amendments to the country’s Civil Code.
The drafts will still need to be discussed in the Legislature’s Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee and then pass second and third readings before becoming law.
Same sex marriage is supported by Taiwan’s president Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) who came into power earlier this year.
This week, more than 60 judges and prosecutors signed a petition to support marriage equality.
The debate has been heating up with both pro- and anti- LGBT protestors demonstrating outside parliament. Lawmakers in support of the legislation have also reported receiving calls of complaint from voters.
“It’s a big step forward for the history of human rights,” said Yu Mei-nu, a ruling Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker told the Associated Press.
“If Taiwan can get this passed … it will give other Asian countries a model.”
Taiwan is inching closer to becoming the first country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage as legislators work on three bills that support marriage equality.
On Wednesday, two bills that offer same-sex couples the right to get married and allow gay couples to adopt children passed first reading in the legislative Yuan, a third is expected to pass Friday.
The country's ruling Democratic Progressive Party, opposition party Kuomintang, and Taiwan's third largest party the New Power Party have all proposed amendments to the country’s Civil Code.
The drafts will still need to be discussed in the Legislature’s Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee and then pass second and third readings before becoming law.
Same sex marriage is supported by Taiwan’s president Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) who came into power earlier this year.
This week, more than 60 judges and prosecutors signed a petition to support marriage equality.
The debate has been heating up with both pro- and anti- LGBT protestors demonstrating outside parliament. Lawmakers in support of the legislation have also reported receiving calls of complaint from voters.
“It’s a big step forward for the history of human rights,” said Yu Mei-nu, a ruling Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker told the Associated Press.
“If Taiwan can get this passed … it will give other Asian countries a model.”
