Taiwan activists hope same-sex marriage ruling will be a trailblazer in Asia

The country’s constitutional court ruled in favour of same-sex marriage on Wednesday

Daphne Chiang (right), an insurance consultant, tries on a wedding dress with her partner Kenny Jhuang, a service worker in Taipei (Reuters)

Taiwanese same-sex couple Daphne Chiang and Kenny Jhuang are getting married at the end of the year. Self-ruled Taiwan’s constitutional court ruled on Wednesday that same-sex couples can tie the knot under existing law.

Such an outcome is a first in Asia, where socially conservative attitudes mostly hold sway.

Democratic Taiwan is famed for an annual gay pride parade that showcases the vibrancy of its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

The community had high expectations its years-long effort to legalise same-sex marriage would win the court’s backing, because of support for gay rights by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that swept national elections last year.

“If it passes, we will be the first in line Thursday morning,” said Chin Tsai before the ruling. He wants legal recognition of a four-year-long relationship so he can join his partner in the United States.

His partner, a ship captain, will move to New York for his job, but Tsai cannot follow as a spouse, unless Taiwan deems their union legal.

The court held a public hearing in March, after years of refusal to take up the issue, prompted by petitions from a gay rights activist and a city government facing growing requests for same-sex marriages.

Legal experts say the 15 judges of the court form the most liberal such group ever, with seven appointed by the country’s president. One of the 15 removed himself from the case, as he is married to a lawmaker who backs gay rights.

Reuters