Taiwan becomes first Asian country to legalise same-sex marriage

• Taiwan government just passed a bill that legalise same-sex marriages.
  
• In 2017, Taiwan’s Constitutional Court struck down the Civil Code’s definition as being only between a man and a woman.
  
• The panel of judges was given two years to suggest any amends or changes in the existing law.

Taiwan government just passed a bill that legalise same-sex marriages, the first country in Asia to do so.

The decision came almost two years after Taiwan’s court ruled that people having same sex can legally marry.



The draft legislation will be enacted immediately after Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen passes it into law.

Thousands of activists and gay rights supporters gathered outside the court in Taiwan’sTaipei to witness the landmark judgment.

The panel of judges was given two years to suggest any amends or changes in the existing law or same-sex couple will be permitted to legally get their marriage registered through local authorities.

In 2017, Taiwan’s Constitutional Court struck down the Civil Code’s definition as being only between a man and a woman. Taiwan’s President, Tsai Ing-wen, has shown her support to the LGBTQ community right before the election in 2016.

The island has been leading the Asian continent to press gay rights across the world. It has a large gay community and it also hosts the biggest pride parade in Asia.

The debate
The issue of same-sex marriages has divided society in Taiwan. Although the court ruled the definition of marriage unconstitutional, the government faced a backlash when 67% of the people voted against same-sex marriages in a referendum.

The lawmakers were debating to vote on three different bills — one which was drafted by the country’s cabinet and the other two were drafted by conservative groups.

The government’s bill was the only one that offered adoption rights though limited. The other two bills focused more on partnerships such as same-sex family relationships or same-sex union than marriages.