Source: Reuters

This year’s International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia witnessed a significant moment in the history of LGBTQ rights as Taiwan’s parliamentarians pass Asia’s first same-sex marriage legislation today (17 May), despite strong opposition from the public as seen in the results of a referendum last Nov.

Results of the referendum revealed that more than 70 per cent of people surveyed were opposed to the legalisation of same-sex marriages in Taiwan, and were keen on preserving marriage rights exclusively for heterosexual couples, Bloomberg reported.

In 2017, Taiwan’s Constitutional Court ruled that the existing law, which only permitted and recognised marriage as being only between a man and a woman, was unconstitutional, resulting in a verdict whereby the Taipei parliament was given two years to amend or enact new laws regarding such unions until 24 May this year.

Lawmakers today voted on three draft bills, with one of them being a marriage equality Bill tabled by the Cabinet and the other two Bills put forth by conservative groups pushing for a “watered-down” “civil-union” in opposition of legalising same-sex marriage.

The progressive Bill tabled by the Cabinet was passed 66 to 27 votes, supported by Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which holds the majority in the House.

The Cabinet’s Bill incorporates the word “marriage” and covers adoption rights for same-sex couples, albeit limited ones. The Bills put forth by conservatives included no adoption rights.

President Tsai said that while she acknowledged that the question of same-sex marriages has caused deep divisions in “families, generations and even inside religious groups” in Taiwan, she argued that the Cabinet’s Bill was the only one that was aligned with the Constitutional Court’s judgement.

Lai Shyh-bao of the opposition Kuomintang party, who acted as one of the proponents of the “civil union” Bills, however, argued that “The cabinet’s bill ignores the referendum results and that is unacceptable.”

President Tsai tweeted in support of the Bill today just before its passing:

She wrote: “Good morning . Today, we have a chance to make history & show the world that progressive values can take root in an East Asian society.”

“Today, we can show the world that ,” she added.

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
You May Also Like

MOE to roll out enhanced bursary schemes; 55, 000 tertiary students to benefit from it

Education Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Thursday (22 August) that close…

Give up your seat – CCTVs are watching

I am not sure if I am saddened or amused by this…

长期需求仍强劲 王瑞杰相信半导体企业能渡过难关

上月,路透社报导,受中美贸易战、对中国华为的政治关切以及消费者需求放缓等因素影响,新加坡芯片和半导体业者已开始放慢生产速度,并裁减数百个工作岗位。 该报导指芯片制造业,在去年占新加坡制造业产出(output)的近三分之一。该行业的下滑,也强化了对于新加坡未来数月可能陷入衰退的预期。 不过,副总理兼财政部长王瑞杰今日(14日)表示,尽管全球电子领域进入疲弱周期,不过他相信新加坡应该为未来投资,并加强半导体行业生态圈,能在需求复苏时抓紧新机遇。 他认为,我国半导体行业经历许多商业周期,每一次企业都能度过难关,抓紧机会转型并变得更坚强。 他是在今日出席美国芯片制造商美光科技(Micron Technology),在本地设立的新设施开幕仪式上,这么表示。 王瑞杰说,有研究显示明年开始需求会复苏,接下来预计每年增幅介于二至九巴仙,故此长期来看对半导体的需求仍强劲。 去年4月,美光科技宣布未来五年将在本地投资扩建净室(cleanroom)设施,该美国企业也在2015年投资40亿美元扩建NAND快闪记忆体加工厂。过去20年,已在本地投资共150亿元。 新加坡被视为仰赖出口的经济体和经济风向标。长期以来,芯片生产也是新加坡成功的核心要素之一,而许多全球最大的芯片制造商,也在我国运营。我国生产的微芯片,被用在手机到汽车等广泛领域。