Same Sex Marriage In Taiwan ? 1

.....Self-ruled Taiwan's constitutional court will rule on Wednesday [24 May 2017] whether same-sex couples can tie the knot under existing law, in a decision the island's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups widely expect to be favorable. Such an outcome would be a first in Asia,........

But even a favorable decision by the court, or Judicial Yuan, as it is known, could take a year or two to translate into laws allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry, experts say.

This is because the court is expected to give lawmakers time to frame relevant measures, said one lawyer who frequently appears before it.

Democratic Taiwan is famed for an annual gay pride parade that showcases the vibrancy of its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

The community has high expectations its years-long effort to legalize same-sex marriage will win the court's backing, because of support for gay rights by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that swept national elections last year......

If the court decides current law does not permit same-sex marriage, it is expected to rule whether such denial violates Taiwan citizens' freedom to marry and constitutional rights.....

The court held a public hearing in March, after years of refusal to take up the issue, prompted by petitions from a gay rights activist and a city government facing growing requests for same-sex marriages......

Legal experts say the 15 judges on the court form the most liberal such group ever, with seven appointed by Tsai after becoming president......

-----"Taiwan activists hope same-sex marriage ruling will be trailblazer in Asia", Reuters.com, 22 May 2017

FuelMix says:

1.  Depending on your definition of Asia, Taiwan may, or may not, be the first in Asia.  Apparently back in 2007, the Supreme Court of Nepal asked the government to end sexual discrimination of minorities (not fully implemented); legally recognize a third gender (which they've done); AND explore the legalization of same-sex marriage (which they're sorta doing).

2.  And once again, Asia's World City (that would be us here in Very Rich Megacity) and Singapore - both affluent and with a growing gay population (we hate the word, "community" - it makes us vomit) plus Thailand (which does NOT recognize same sex marriage, contrary to public perception), are gonna be left behind.  Even more ironic considering the local hoopla in anticipation of Very Rich Megacity being awarded the Gay Games in 2022.

3.  Meanwhile in Jakarta, Indonesia, where homosexuality is apparently legal nationwide but severely (and recently violently) restricted by Sharia law and attitudes, (particularly in the province of Aceh),  the police arrested 141 gay guys in a gay gym / sauna on charges of prostitution and widely disseminated their pictures.

4.  Perhaps someone should politely inform them that if they're looking for Indonesian male prostitutes, they'll find them on Hong Kong's Craigslist M2M pages.  New (ugly) faces every week.

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