Taiwan has become the first Asian state to legalise same-sex marriage. Part of a bill enabling gay couples to enter “exclusive permanent unions” and apply for marriage registration was comfortably passed by lawmakers on Supporters shouted “First in Asia!” 17 May. The country’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, who had campaigned for the change, tweeted: “We took a big step towards true equality, and made Taiwan a better country”. Adoption rights for same-sex couples are still being debated. In China, where homosexuality is illegal, there have been calls from within the LGBT community that it should be decriminalised.
Taiwan has become the first Asian state to legalise same-sex marriage. Part of a bill enabling gay couples to enter “exclusive permanent unions” and apply for marriage registration was comfortably passed by lawmakers on 17 May. The country’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, who had campaigned for the change, tweeted: “We took a big step towards true equality, and made Taiwan a better country”. Adoption rights for same-sex couples are still being debated. In China, where homosexuality is illegal, there have been calls from within the LGBT community that it should be decriminalised.