OP-ED: The Tsai Administration Needs to Stop Stalling on Marriage Equality

For years the DPP blamed the KMT for stalled efforts to legalize same-sex marriage in Taiwan. Now in control of both the executive and legislative branches of government, the DPP has no valid argument for further delays.

The News Lens
Date: 2016/08/24
By: J. Michael Cole

Following Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) victory in the Jan. 16 general elections, many human rights observers in Taiwan and abroad cherished the possibility that Taiwan could become the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. To distinguish itself from the more conservative Kuomintang (KMT) in the lead-up to the elections, Tsai’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) made this subject a component of its platform, and a large contingent of party members were instructed to take part in last year’s LGBT Pride Parade in Taipei.

For years, and despite the unflagging dedication of a number of DPP legislators like Yu Mei-nu (尤美女), moves to legalize same-sex unions in Taiwan were ostensibly blocked by the KMT, which had control of both the executive and legislative branches of government, and a small albeit vocal, connected and resourceful group of conservative Christians.

Following the DPP’s victory in the presidential and legislative elections on Jan. 16, the way seemed finally clear to pass the necessary legislation and make Taiwan a true leader in LGBT and human rights in Asia. In the dozens of interviews that I gave to international media before, during and after the elections, the possibility of legalization was a question that I was asked again and again.     [FULL  STORY]