Rabat – Taiwan will likely become the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. The Taiwanese Constitutional Court ruled on Wednesday, May 24 that laws prohibiting same-sex marriage go against the country’s constitution.
In a press release, the Taiwanese Court said that sexual orientation an “immutable characteristic that is resistant to change,” and added that freedom of marriage “is vital to the development of personality and the defense of human dignity, and therefore is a fundamental right.”
The high court has given the island’s parliament a maximum of two years to revise or decree new laws, which might make the island the first place in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage.
While LGBT rights are being met with rejection and violence in the surrounding South East Asian countries, Taiwan has remained open to queer population, holding the biggest gay pride parade in Asia.
Tseng Chao-yuana. a senior researcher and a supporter of the bill said that “over 60 percent of legislators across party lines had expressed support for the same-sex marriage draft bills,” according to news website Focus Taiwan.
