Rainbow Island: Taiwan’s struggle for marriage equality

Abstract

In May 2019, Taiwan became the first country in Asia to introduce same-sex marriage. After much debate and controversy in Taiwanese society and politics, Taiwan’s parliament passed a same-sex marriage law. The law implemented a ruling of Taiwan’s Constitutional Court that decided in May 2017 that Taiwan’s legislature must change the civil law to allow same-sex couples to marry in two years’ time. What are the reasons behind Taiwan’s comparatively progressive stance on same-sex marriage? Liberal judges and progressive politicians, an active LGBTQ and human rights movement, and a younger population largely in favor of same-sex marriage—united by an identity of Taiwan as a modern democracy and a country that respects human rights—are the main reasons for Taiwan’s comparatively progressive stance on this issue.