The China Post
Date: December 26, 2016
By: Stephanie Chao
The China Post — “Maybe it’s because I know what’s it like to be ostracized, so I understand that the
debate over same-sex marriage needs to be resolved through empathy,” said 24-year-old Bluence He.
He, who was born in Yunlin, came out around three years ago.
He is a member of the younger generation of Taiwanese society, which largely supports marriage equality and believes being able to marry for love and to be protected by the law are basic human rights. By contrast, many opponents of same-sex marriage fear legalization would permanently upend traditional family values in Taiwan.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmaker Yu Mei-nu has spearheaded a renewed effort to pass an amendment to the Civil Code that would legalize same-sex marriage. The bill has received widespread support from LGBT organizations.
Supporters of Yu’s bill maintain that it is the “simplest” solution to achieving marriage equality because it would not require widespread revisions. They also say that it would be more effective than other proposals in guaranteeing rights for same-sex couples. [FULL STORY]