Taiwan Today
Date: April 28, 2016
Changhua County is the latest municipality in Taiwan offering same-sex
Gender activists call for legally recognized same-sex marriages during a Taipei City demonstration in the run up to the 2016 presidential and legislative elections. (Staff photo/Jimmy Lin)
couples the right to record their partnerships at household registration offices, underscoring the nation’s increasingly liberal approach to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender demographic.
Although the record is not legally binding, it does represent a strong step forward in raising public awareness and understanding of LGBT issues. Changhua’s commencement of the service earlier this month sees it join the ranks of Hsinchu County, as well as Chiayi, Kaohsiung, New Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Taipei and Taoyuan cities—all of which implemented similar measures over the past year.
Reva Lin, an official from the Civil Registry Section at Changhua County Government, said the measure reflects the makeup of the central Taiwan municipality’s population of 1.28 million, the seventh largest on the island.
“Three couples were waiting for us to open on our first day,” Lin said. “We respect and understand the needs of these people, and are working with local activists to ensure Changhua is at the forefront in providing equal and fair treatment for residents.” [FULL STORY]
