Taiwan’s gay groups walk for equal marriage rights
Print Edition
TENS of thousands of people yesterday took to the streets of Taipei for Asia’s largest gay rights parade, with many urging the Taiwan government to push through a controversial bill recognizing same-sex marriage.
Supporters waved placards reading “equal marriage rights” and “support gay marriage” as they marched through Taipei for the 12th annual “Walk in Queers’ Shoes” parade.
Gay and lesbian groups in Taiwan have been urging the government for years to legalize same-sex marriage. The government started reviewing a bill on the issue last year.
But yesterday’s marchers expressed mixed opinions about the future of the bill, with some predicting it would not survive strong opposition from anti-gay marriage groups who staged a massive counter-rally late last year.
“Conservative forces have been lobbying hard against the bill and accused us of demanding privileges, when all we are asking for is equal rights,” said organizer Albert Yang.
Others, like graduate student Wang Chun-ling, were hopeful that Taiwan will join the global trend of recognizing same-sex unions.
“Equal marriage right is a basic human right and I hope the conservative and religious groups will be more tolerant and less narrow-minded,” Wang said.
It’s a pressing matter for Cindy Su, a 33-year-old who tied the knot with her partner in Canada in June as they want to start a family soon.
“I hope the government will pass the bill soon because we want to have children and we need legal status and protection. Even though we are married in Canada, legally we are strangers in Taiwan,” said Su, dressed in a white bridal gown.
Last year, about 65,000 gays, lesbians and their supporters marched in Taiwan in a record crowd to push for legalizing same-sex marriage and other rights.
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