The issue of same-sex marriage has been a hotly debated one for years. And even though same-sex marriage has been legalized in major countries around the world, most Asian and African nations been against it. Recently, Taiwan became the first country in Asia to allow for same-sex marriages. Meanwhile, citizens in the Philippines are encouraged to vote through a Congress poll online on whether or not they are for or against same-sex marriage.
Taiwan Becomes First Country In Asia To Legalize Same-Sex Marriage
After years of fierce debate over Taiwan’s Constitutional Court ruling which stated that the existing marriage law was unconstitutional and violating LGBTQ citizens’ human rights, Taiwan’s parliament passed a law allowing for same-sex marriages.
Taiwan became the first Asian country in the region to legalize same-sex marriage. According to CNN, as of 10 am, 166 same-sex couples had already registered their marriages across Taiwan.
This is despite the referendum during the 2018 Taiwan local elections which asked voters if they supported same-sex marriage. Sixty-nine percent of voters said they wanted the marriage code restricted to between a man and a woman.
Cause For Concern?
The move, while a good one for the LGBTQ community, could also be a cause of concern for the country’s legislation. In the 2018 Taiwan referendum, the questions on same-sex marriage asked were negative. With regards to same-sex marriages, voters were in opposition but weren’t against LGBTQ couples being allowed other basic human rights.
In addition to this, it is reported that the law passed allows only for marriage registration rather than same-sex marriage. Furthermore, the law doesn’t allow LGBTQ couples complete rights to adoption.
But this isn’t enough as Sun Chi-Cheng, chairman of the Stability of Power Alliance, announced a new political party to contest the 2020 elections and overturn the bills passed.
The Philippines and Same-Sex Marriage
A 2013 Pew Research Center report found that the Philippines is the second most gay-friendly country in Asia after Australia. As of December 2018, the country’s President, Rodrigo Duterte, seemed to agree that same-sex marriages should be allowed.
According to the Philippine Information Agency, during an LGBT rally in his hometown of Davao in December 2018, the President said “Ako gusto ko, same-sex marriage. Ang problema, we’ll have to change the law; but we can change the law,” (I like same-sex marriage. The problem is we have to change the law, but we can change the law).
So what’s the problem? According to Business Insider, the country is 80 percent Catholic and this has undoubtedly been a stumbling block in their bid to legalize same-sex marriage. Currently, the House of Representatives have an online poll which asks “Are you in favour of the proposal in the House of Representatives which legalizes same-sex unions as a civil partnership in the country?”
Surely a change is in sight? Only time will tell. Click here to read what Pinoys think of same-sex marriages.
Countries Which Have Legalized Same-Sex Marriages
The countries in favour of same-sex marriages increase daily and this should be cause for celebration for the LGBTQ community. According to Business Insider, there are currently 28 countries that allow for same-sex marriages and/or civil unions and they are:
2001 – The Netherlands (the first country to legalize same-sex marriages)
2003 – Belgium
2005 – Spain and Canada
2006 – South Africa
2008 – Norway (1993 Norway allowed gay couples to enter civil unions)
2009 – Sweden
2010 – Iceland, Portugal and Argentina (first Latin American country to allow same-sex marriage)
2012 – Denmark
2013 – Uruguay, New-Zeland (the first country in the Asia-Pacific), France and Brazil
2014 – England, Wales (first countries in the U.K.) and Scotland
2015 – Luxembourg, Ireland, Greenland and the United States
2016 – Colombia
2017 – Germany
2019 – Malta, Finland (approved marriage equality bill in 2014, but went into effect this year).
2019 – Australia and Taiwan
Countries Still Contemplating Same-Sex Marriages
With the breakthrough made by Taiwan today, it is expected that other Asian countries will follow suit such as the Philippines and possibly, Japan. Other Asian countries such as South and North Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, and China still seem to be heavily against the idea of same-sex marriages or civil union rights, according to the Pew Research Center.
Other continents aren’t faring any better such as Africa where a whopping 53 countries are against same-sex marriages or rights. South Africa is currently acting as Africa’s sole representative in support of the LGBTQ community.
Whether this can or will change in the future remains to be seen but for today, the LGBTQ community in Taiwan celebrates and that’s all most of them could ask for.