Photos: Taiwan’s same-sex marriage referendum divides families

Updated On Nov 25, 2018 03:29 pm IST

On Saturday, Taiwan held a series of public votes on whether its civil law should now recognise same-sex marriage, after its election authority approved contradicting referendum petitions from both conservative and rights groups. The issue has divided Taiwan, at family dining room tables, online and on the streets, with large-scale rallies. Rights activists say the referendum is "discriminatory" as it goes against a 2017 court ruling that current laws violate the right to freedom of marriage and equality. The heated debate also presents a challenge to President Tsai Ing-wen, who rights activists say has backed away from her promise of marriage equality in the run-up to elections in 2016.

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On a sunny day in a park in Taipei, photographer Austin Haung (2nd, L) advises a same-sex couple on how to pose for a pre-wedding photo shoot. For him, Taiwan’s reputation as a beacon of liberalism in the region means a thriving business. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

Updated on Nov 25, 2018 03:29 pm IST

On a sunny day in a park in Taipei, photographer Austin Haung (2nd, L) advises a same-sex couple on how to pose for a pre-wedding photo shoot. For him, Taiwan’s reputation as a beacon of liberalism in the region means a thriving business. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

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Lin Chinxuan (L), holds Haung's face to demonstrate for their clients during a photoshoot. “Our clients are mostly same-sex couples from overseas, including Hong Kong, Singapore, China and Malaysia,” said 32-year-old Haung. “They said Taiwan is a reassuring place to do the shoot...If they do this in their own country, they worry about being identified or people raising eyebrows,” he said. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

Updated on Nov 25, 2018 03:29 pm IST

Lin Chinxuan (L), holds Haung's face to demonstrate for their clients during a photoshoot. “Our clients are mostly same-sex couples from overseas, including Hong Kong, Singapore, China and Malaysia,” said 32-year-old Haung. “They said Taiwan is a reassuring place to do the shoot...If they do this in their own country, they worry about being identified or people raising eyebrows,” he said. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

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Du Yueting (R), 42, and her girlfriend Zhang Tongyu, 35, pose at their restaurant after a long day of work, in New Taipei City. In Asia’s first such ruling, Taiwan’s constitutional court declared in May last year that same-sex couples had the right to legally marry, and set a two-year deadline for legalisation. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

Updated on Nov 25, 2018 03:29 pm IST

Du Yueting (R), 42, and her girlfriend Zhang Tongyu, 35, pose at their restaurant after a long day of work, in New Taipei City. In Asia’s first such ruling, Taiwan’s constitutional court declared in May last year that same-sex couples had the right to legally marry, and set a two-year deadline for legalisation. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

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Du Yueting (R), kisses Zhang Tongyu goodbye outside their restaurant. On Saturday, Taiwan held a series of public votes on whether its civil law should now recognise same-sex marriage, after its election authority approved contradicting referendum petitions from both conservative and rights groups. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

Updated on Nov 25, 2018 03:29 pm IST

Du Yueting (R), kisses Zhang Tongyu goodbye outside their restaurant. On Saturday, Taiwan held a series of public votes on whether its civil law should now recognise same-sex marriage, after its election authority approved contradicting referendum petitions from both conservative and rights groups. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

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Lin Chinxuan feeds Haung a dessert. The issue has divided Taiwan, at family dining room tables, online and on the streets. Haung, who is gay, plans to vote for same-sex marriage, but his mother Zeng, in her early 60s, staunchly objects. In fact, she has rallied relatives and friends to support the opposing referendum that defines marriage as between a man and a woman. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

Updated on Nov 25, 2018 03:29 pm IST

Lin Chinxuan feeds Haung a dessert. The issue has divided Taiwan, at family dining room tables, online and on the streets. Haung, who is gay, plans to vote for same-sex marriage, but his mother Zeng, in her early 60s, staunchly objects. In fact, she has rallied relatives and friends to support the opposing referendum that defines marriage as between a man and a woman. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

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Books lie on shelves at Gin Gin bookshop, a hub for LGBT rights activists. “There’s no need to protect gay marriage...The younger generation has their own ideas, but I disagree regardless of what they say,” she said. Rights activists say the conservative referendum is “discriminatory” as it goes against a 2017 court ruling that current laws violate the right to freedom of marriage and equality. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

Updated on Nov 25, 2018 03:29 pm IST

Books lie on shelves at Gin Gin bookshop, a hub for LGBT rights activists. “There’s no need to protect gay marriage...The younger generation has their own ideas, but I disagree regardless of what they say,” she said. Rights activists say the conservative referendum is “discriminatory” as it goes against a 2017 court ruling that current laws violate the right to freedom of marriage and equality. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

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Winson Lo, 44, the owner of T-Kingdom, a company that makes chest binders, fits her client with a chest binder. The same-sex marriage votes coincides with Taiwan’s mayoral and magisterial elections, a test of confidence for Tsai’s government grappling with domestic reforms as well as rising pressure from China, which considers the island its own. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

Updated on Nov 25, 2018 03:29 pm IST

Winson Lo, 44, the owner of T-Kingdom, a company that makes chest binders, fits her client with a chest binder. The same-sex marriage votes coincides with Taiwan’s mayoral and magisterial elections, a test of confidence for Tsai’s government grappling with domestic reforms as well as rising pressure from China, which considers the island its own. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

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John Sugden (R) and Kao Shaochun look at each other during their pre-wedding photoshoot. “I hope Tsai Ing-wen could undertake the leadership responsibility. The issue has been delayed for so long due to a lack of policy direction from the ruling party,” said Jennifer Lu, co-ordinator of the Marriage Equality Coalition Taiwan. “The government should protect the rights of marriage for all Taiwanese.” (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

Updated on Nov 25, 2018 03:29 pm IST

John Sugden (R) and Kao Shaochun look at each other during their pre-wedding photoshoot. “I hope Tsai Ing-wen could undertake the leadership responsibility. The issue has been delayed for so long due to a lack of policy direction from the ruling party,” said Jennifer Lu, co-ordinator of the Marriage Equality Coalition Taiwan. “The government should protect the rights of marriage for all Taiwanese.” (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

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Leong Guzifer (L), 30, and Ting Tseyen, 27, take part in a rally to support the same-sex marriage referendum. Taiwan’s capital Taipei has a celebrated annual gay pride parade that showcases the vibrancy of its LGBT community. The one-week celebration in October contributed more than $3.3 million to the economy, according to daily Taipei Times. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

Updated on Nov 25, 2018 03:29 pm IST

Leong Guzifer (L), 30, and Ting Tseyen, 27, take part in a rally to support the same-sex marriage referendum. Taiwan’s capital Taipei has a celebrated annual gay pride parade that showcases the vibrancy of its LGBT community. The one-week celebration in October contributed more than $3.3 million to the economy, according to daily Taipei Times. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

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LGBT-related businesses are thriving with Taiwan’s liberal attitude earning it a reputation as Asia’s “gay capital”. One hub is the Gin Gin bookshop, which was raided by police in 2003 and 500 magazines seized. “We have fought a long fight and now have loyal customers coming to our shop at least once a year from all over the world,” said Yang Pingjing, one of its owners. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

Updated on Nov 25, 2018 03:29 pm IST

LGBT-related businesses are thriving with Taiwan’s liberal attitude earning it a reputation as Asia’s “gay capital”. One hub is the Gin Gin bookshop, which was raided by police in 2003 and 500 magazines seized. “We have fought a long fight and now have loyal customers coming to our shop at least once a year from all over the world,” said Yang Pingjing, one of its owners. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

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Located in an alley at the heart of Taipei with rainbow flags leading up to the staircases, the owner of a decades-old bathhouse for men said his business is now often packed and receives many customers from overseas. “I’m not too worried about my business,” said Yu Nanxian, owner of Hans Men’s Sauna. “Once a gay man, you will always be a gay man, no matter the result of the referendum.” (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

Updated on Nov 25, 2018 03:29 pm IST

Located in an alley at the heart of Taipei with rainbow flags leading up to the staircases, the owner of a decades-old bathhouse for men said his business is now often packed and receives many customers from overseas. “I’m not too worried about my business,” said Yu Nanxian, owner of Hans Men’s Sauna. “Once a gay man, you will always be a gay man, no matter the result of the referendum.” (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

News / Photos / News / Photos: Taiwan’s same-sex marriage referendum divides families

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