BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – INFORMATION reaching this publication indicates that the twin-island Federation’s best socio-economic ally, Taiwan, might soon legalise same-sex marriage on that East Asian island.
According to an article headlined “Taiwan Set to Legalize Same-Sex Marriages” written by Ralph Jennings, Associated Press correspondent in Taipei, Taiwanese lawmakers are currently working on three bills in support of marriage equality, one of which is already listed for review and could be passed within months.
It also stated that same-sex marriage has the prominent support of Taiwan's first female Head of State, President Tsai Ing-wen.
The article claimed that Tseng Yen-jung, spokeswoman for a group called Taiwan LGBT Family Rights Advocacy, cited that local university studies had revealed that about 80 percent of Taiwanese between ages 20 and 29 support same-sex marriage.
“Taiwan’s United Daily News found in a survey taken four years ago that 55 percent of the public supported same-sex marriage, with 37 percent opposed,” the media house said.
In his analysis of the survey, the writer said: “That’s seen as a reflection of Taiwan’s ready acceptance of multi-party democracy and other inclusive attitudes, as well as the fact that Taiwan’s 23 million people largely follow Buddhism and traditional Chinese religions that take no strong positions on sexual orientation or gay marriage.”
The writer also claimed that associate Professor in the Graduate Institute of Taiwan Studies at Chang Jung University, Jens Damm said that gay and lesbian relationships began to find wide acceptance in the 1990s, aided by the already well-established feminist movement.
“The elite became in favour of a kind of gender equality,” Damm said.
Quoting founder and Director of the Taiwan International Queer Film Festival, the writer said: “While practical issues such as sharing assets and medical benefits are motivating factors, simple love and respect are also a strong impetus.”
The writer had interviewed a number of Taiwanese, among whom was the father of four-month-old twin boys who reportedly said, “There are lots of people who have been loving and committed to each other for decades and they’d like to put a ring around their finger,” adding that he would consider marrying his partner.
He also reportedly spoke with 35-year-old Su Shan who, together with her partner, is raising five-month-old twins, but only one of the women is the legal parent.
The writer informed that Su, who is a software engineer, said she and her partner, also 35, find little sign of such concerns among the people they meet. Most Taiwanese are highly accepting of their relationship and their right to raise children.
“We go to the market with our kids and people say, ‘How cute.’ When they find there are two mamas, they feel intrigued. Maybe they have seen news about this type of family but don’t have friends near them who are doing it,” Su is quoted as saying.
The writer stated that Hu Wen-chi, spokesman for the main opposition Nationalist Party’s Central Standing Committee, said that as legalisation grows closer, opposition to same-sex marriage is hardening among a small minority of fundamentalist churches and conservative politicians, including some members of his party.
He noted that during their time in power, the Nationalists had stopped earlier efforts to pass same-sex marriage bills, including one introduced in 2013 that met opposition from Christian groups that gathered signatures from about 400,000 naysayers.
The writer also chronicled the opinion of Chairman of the year-old political party Faith And Hope League, Chen Chih-hung, who said, “Legalizing same-sex marriages would burden Taiwan's welfare system and be tough on children.”
However, Yu Mei-nu, a ruling Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker who is sponsoring the same-sex marriage bill now in line for parliamentary debate, has a different view.
He reportedly said, “It's a big step forward for the history of human rights. If Taiwan can get this passed, it will give other Asian countries a model.”
Taiwan’s Justice Ministry has not backed a specific bill, but pledged on its website last month to maintain an “attitude of openness” toward same-sex marriage. And in October, last, President Tsai said she supports same-sex marriage.
The writer further reported that domestic gays and lesbians have also formed an effective lobby in recent years and that an annual Gay Pride march in Taipei last month drew tens of thousands of people, many pushing for gay marriage.
Should the bill be passed, Taiwan would join Canada, Colombia, Ireland, the United States of America and 16 other countries that have legalised same-sex marriage over the past 15 years, according to the Washington, DC-based LGBT rights advocacy group Human Rights Campaign. But it would be a notable exception among Asian and Middle Eastern countries, at least 20 of which continue to ban same-sex intercourse.
