For a moment there, we were really worried about Taiwan, but hey, they did it!
Last November, we feared how Taiwanese lawmakers will respond to the immense pressure brought forth by the outcome of their referendum, which showed that over seven million voters rejected same sex marriage.
READ MORE: What Taiwan’s loss in the referendum for same-sex marriage means to us
But their government came through! With the two-year deadline to amend its laws looming in, we are so pleased to hear that the Taiwanese government pushed through the legislation despite initiatives by conservative lawmakers to prevent it.
Backed by Pres. Tsai Ing-wen and her party, the new legislation allows same-sex couples to apply for “marriage registration.” Vox additionally noted, “The bill also included provisions for limited adoption rights, and will extend some tax and insurance benefits to same-sex married couples.”
It is important to note that while it makes same-sex marriage legal, “it still exists outside the current civil code that governs heterosexual couples.” According to The Washington Post, this was done “to comply with the 2017 court ruling as well as the November 2018 referendum.”
Though some pointed out the law still failed to provide full equality, it’s still undeniably a victory. As the first country in Asia to legalize gay marriage, Taiwan has come to signify a ray of hope for equality advocates across the continent.
See how others are celebrating Taiwan’s landmark ruling:
It’s a long shot, but we hope our country will follow suit. If Taiwan can do it, we can too!
[Vox]
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
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