Taiwan Pride: Queerness in Asia

The News Lens
Date: 2019/10/23
By: Rik Glauert

Rik Glauert is a freelance journalist and student based in Taipei. He specializes in politics and human rights and has previously reported from China, Hong Kong, and Myanmar.

Gay couple Masahiro and Kosuke, whose first names are omitted for anonymity, dreamed of buying a small house together in the Japanese city of Fukuoka.

Under Japanese law, however, they cannot get married and they found it impossible to get a joint mortgage as two legally single men. Luckily a close friend in real estate bent the rules and granted them a loan in Kosuke’s name.

Last month, the pair sued the government to allow them to legally marry. They joined 12 other couples launching cases in district courts across the country as part of Japan’s greatest attempt at marriage equality in history.

Japan’s bid, led by activist group Marriage for All Japan, is inspired and guided by Taiwan’s landmark win to recognize same-sex marriage in May this year.    [FULL  STORY]