Taiwan’s government is proposing a new law to allow same-sex marriage.
Back in November, the people of the self-governing island nation voted against gay and lesbian marriage in a series of referendums, upsetting momentum from the LGBT community who felt that they could be the first in Asia to be granted the right to marry. Voters, though, rejected the referendum and defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman.
“We belong to the same country regardless of whether you are heterosexual or homosexual,” Su said. “I sincerely hope that everyone could accept difference and treat each other in a friendly way.”
The special law is going to be discussed in a cabinet meeting tomorrow and then will be sent to parliament for review. A vote is also expected in parliament in May, according to Reuters.
Although the new law would grant gays and lesbians the same rights, many in the LGBT community feel that creating a separate but equal law, is discriminatory. The current law, they also say, violates the right to freedom of marriage and equality. [CNA]