- Title: Taiwan court rules in favour of same-sex marriage, first in Asia
- Date: 24th May 2017
- Summary: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (MAY 24, 2017) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** EXTERIOR OF TAIWAN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CAMERAMEN FILMING PROTESTER BEATING DRUM PROTESTER TALKING INTO MICROPHONE PROTESTERS SHOUTING SLOGANS PROTESTER DRUMMING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHRISTIAN PASTOR, DEBORAH HSIN, SAYING: "The whole society, we do not have any consensus regarding same-sex marriage. Also, I think the controversy is very big and a lot of common people are very worried, because same-sex marriage goes against their (ideas) of sexual intercourse and life." PROTESTERS HOLDING BANNERS BANNERS READING (Chinese): "TAIWAN DOES NOT WELCOME SAME-SEX MARRIAGE" CONSTITUTIONAL COURT HOLDING NEWS CONFERENCE HOST TALKING LED DISPLAY READING (English): "MARRIAGE CASE PRESS CONFERENCE" REPORTER LOOKING AT SMARTPHONE (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) TAIWAN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT SECRETARY GENERAL, LU TAI-LANG, SAYING: "For two people of the same sex who want to lead a live together, establishing a permanent, intimate and exclusive relationship does not affect the meaning of marriage between people of opposite sex, nor does it change the social order that is built upon heterosexual marriage. So after the freedom of marriage for same-sex couple has received legal recognition, it (same-sex marriage) can become a stable rock of society along with heterosexual marriage." TAIWAN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT SECRETARY GENERAL LOOKING ON (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) TAIWAN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT SECRETARY GENERAL, LU TAI-LANG, SAYING: "If same-sex marriage is to be allowed in accordance with the section (of the civil code) concerning marriage and its formal requirements, establishing legal marital status and requiring that both parties abide to the rights and obligations of marriage including its termination, this will not affect the current basic ethical order built on the heterosexual marital system." NEWS CONFERENCE ENDING
- Embargoed: 7th June 2017 11:49
- Keywords: legalising Taiwan same-sex marriage Taiwan marriage equality same-sex marriage
- Location: TAIPEI, TAIWAN
- City: TAIPEI, TAIWAN
- Country: Taiwan
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Judicial Process/Court Cases/Court Decisions
- Reuters ID: LVA0016I772O5
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Taiwan's constitutional court declared on Wednesday (May 24) that same-sex couples have the right to legally marry, the first such ruling in Asia, sparking celebration by activists who have been campaigning for the right for years.
The court, known as the Judicial Yuan, said current marriage laws were "in violation of both the people's freedom of marriage ... and the people's right to equality", and it gave two years for legal amendments to allow same-sex marriage.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights activists had harboured high hopes their years of campaigning for same-sex marriage would win the court's backing, as the ruling Democratic Progressive Party that swept national elections in the self-ruled island last year supported the change.
Taiwan, which China regards as a renegade province, has a reputation as a beacon of liberalism in the region and is home to Asia's biggest annual gay pride parade that showcases the vibrancy of its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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