crown

Subscribe Now

FOLLOW US

Sign in

Taiwan becomes Asia’s first country to legalise same-sex marriage

A supporter waves a rainbow flag during a rally after Taiwan's constitutional court ruled that same-sex couples have the right to legally marry, the first such ruling in Asia, in Taipei, Taiwan. (Tyrone Siu/REUTERS)

Updated on: May 24, 2017 7:14 PM IST

Share via

Copy link

1/13

A supporter waves a rainbow flag during a rally after Taiwan's constitutional court ruled that same-sex couples have the right to legally marry, the first such ruling in Asia, in Taipei, Taiwan. (Tyrone Siu/REUTERS)

Updated on May 24, 2017 7:14 PM

A supporter waves a rainbow flag during a rally after Taiwan's constitutional court ruled that same-sex couples have the right to legally marry, the first such ruling in Asia, in Taipei, Taiwan. (Tyrone Siu/REUTERS)

2/13

A supporter holds a rainbow umbrella during the rally. Taiwan’s top court ruled in favour of gay marriage on Wednesday, a landmark decision that paves the way for the island to become the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex unions. (Tyrone Siu/REUTERS)

Updated on May 24, 2017 7:14 PM

A supporter holds a rainbow umbrella during the rally. Taiwan’s top court ruled in favour of gay marriage on Wednesday, a landmark decision that paves the way for the island to become the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex unions. (Tyrone Siu/REUTERS)

3/13

Same-sex activists hug outside the parliament as they celebrate the landmark decision. Crowds of supporters cheered, hugged and wept as the court said current laws preventing the practice “violated” the Constitution’s guarantees of freedom of marriage and equality. (Sam Yeh/AFP)

Updated on May 24, 2017 7:14 PM

Same-sex activists hug outside the parliament as they celebrate the landmark decision. Crowds of supporters cheered, hugged and wept as the court said current laws preventing the practice “violated” the Constitution’s guarantees of freedom of marriage and equality. (Sam Yeh/AFP)

4/13

Supporters wave their mobile phone torches in the colors of the rainbow. It gave the government two years to implement the ruling. (Tyrone Siu/REUTERS)

Updated on May 24, 2017 7:14 PM

Supporters wave their mobile phone torches in the colors of the rainbow. It gave the government two years to implement the ruling. (Tyrone Siu/REUTERS)

5/13

Momentum has been growing behind the push for equal marriage rights, with Taiwan’s president Tsai Ing-wen openly supporting the campaign. (Tyrone Siu/REUTERS)

Updated on May 24, 2017 7:14 PM

Momentum has been growing behind the push for equal marriage rights, with Taiwan’s president Tsai Ing-wen openly supporting the campaign. (Tyrone Siu/REUTERS)

6/13

The community had high expectations that its yearlong effort to legalise 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. (Tyrone Siu/REUTERS )

Updated on May 24, 2017 7:14 PM

The community had high expectations that its yearlong effort to legalise 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. (Tyrone Siu/REUTERS )

7/13

Hare Lin (L), a publisher, and Cho Chia-lin, 47, a writer, pose for a photograph in Taiwan. The constitutional court said if parliament does not make the change within two years, same-sex couples could register to marry regardless, based on its interpretation. (Tyrone Siu/REUTERS )

Updated on May 24, 2017 7:14 PM

Hare Lin (L), a publisher, and Cho Chia-lin, 47, a writer, pose for a photograph in Taiwan. The constitutional court said if parliament does not make the change within two years, same-sex couples could register to marry regardless, based on its interpretation. (Tyrone Siu/REUTERS )

8/13

Solo Lee (R) believes that love is simply a goodness and that it makes people happy. But there has also been anger among conservative groups, who have staged mass rallies against any change in the law. (Tyrone Siu/REUTERS )

Updated on May 24, 2017 7:14 PM

Solo Lee (R) believes that love is simply a goodness and that it makes people happy. But there has also been anger among conservative groups, who have staged mass rallies against any change in the law. (Tyrone Siu/REUTERS )

9/13

Chi Chia-wei, a gay rights activist, leaves a bathroom in Taipei, Taiwan. As of January 2017, same-sex couples in Taiwan could legally register their partnerships in some of the cities in Taiwan. However the rights afforded in these partnerships were very limited. (Tyrone Siu/REUTERS )

Updated on May 24, 2017 7:14 PM

Chi Chia-wei, a gay rights activist, leaves a bathroom in Taipei, Taiwan. As of January 2017, same-sex couples in Taiwan could legally register their partnerships in some of the cities in Taiwan. However the rights afforded in these partnerships were very limited. (Tyrone Siu/REUTERS )

10/13

Daphne Chiang (R), an insurance consultant, tries on a wedding dress with her same-sex partner Kenny Jhuang in Taiwan. Currently Taiwan’s Civil Code stipulates an agreement to marry can only be made between a man and a woman. (Tyrone Siu/REUTERS )

Updated on May 24, 2017 7:14 PM

Daphne Chiang (R), an insurance consultant, tries on a wedding dress with her same-sex partner Kenny Jhuang in Taiwan. Currently Taiwan’s Civil Code stipulates an agreement to marry can only be made between a man and a woman. (Tyrone Siu/REUTERS )

11/13

Hu Sheng Xiang (L), and Pan Shi Xin are both LGBT rights activists in Taipei, Taiwan. According to Xiang ,the LGBT movement was not just about same-sex marriage, there are lots of other issues concerning sexual minorities, such as supporting the partners and communities of LGBT members who have mental illness. (Tyrone Siu/REUTERS )

Updated on May 24, 2017 7:14 PM

Hu Sheng Xiang (L), and Pan Shi Xin are both LGBT rights activists in Taipei, Taiwan. According to Xiang ,the LGBT movement was not just about same-sex marriage, there are lots of other issues concerning sexual minorities, such as supporting the partners and communities of LGBT members who have mental illness. (Tyrone Siu/REUTERS )

12/13

Students pose for a photograph in Taiwan. The anti same-sex marriage groups who are against the decriminalization act claim to protect the next generation by preventing marriage among homosexual couples. A panel of 14 grand justices made the ruling -- a majority of 10 was needed. Only two judges dissented. (Tyrone Siu/REUTERS )

Updated on May 24, 2017 7:14 PM

Students pose for a photograph in Taiwan. The anti same-sex marriage groups who are against the decriminalization act claim to protect the next generation by preventing marriage among homosexual couples. A panel of 14 grand justices made the ruling -- a majority of 10 was needed. Only two judges dissented. (Tyrone Siu/REUTERS )

13/13

FILE - In this Dec. 10, 2016, file photo, supporters of LGBT and human rights wave rainbow flags during a rally supporting a proposal to allow same-sex marriage. The court said the physical and psychological need for permanent unions was - equally essential to homosexuals and heterosexuals, given the importance of the freedom of marriage to the sound development of personality and safeguarding of human dignity. (Chiang Ying-ying/AP)

Updated on May 24, 2017 7:14 PM

FILE - In this Dec. 10, 2016, file photo, supporters of LGBT and human rights wave rainbow flags during a rally supporting a proposal to allow same-sex marriage. The court said the physical and psychological need for permanent unions was - equally essential to homosexuals and heterosexuals, given the importance of the freedom of marriage to the sound development of personality and safeguarding of human dignity. (Chiang Ying-ying/AP)

Related Photos

Home/Photos/News/Taiwan Becomes Asia’s First Country To Legalise Same-sex Marriage

© 2026 HindustanTimes