The pen was given to Chi Chia-wei for his contributions to marriage equality, with a note saying, ‘May love unite all who call this land home’

Taiwan News 
Date: 2019/05/23
By: Judy Lo, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) gave the pen that she signed the same-sex marriage bill into law on Wednesday (May 22) to Taiwan’s gay rights pioneer Chi Chia-wei (祈家威), according to Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBT) Hotline Association.

The association posted a photograph on its Facebook page on Thursday (May 23) showing the pen. Along with the photo of the gift pen was a note written by Tsai, thanking Chi for his contribution to gay rights and marriage equality in Taiwan.

Chi, 60 years old, is a high-profile gay rights activist in Taiwan. He attempted but failed to apply for marriage registration in 1986, which marked the beginning of his efforts in the fight for marriage equality.

His hard work finally bore fruit in 2017, when the Constitutional Court ruled it was a constitutional right to equality, and freedom of marriage guaranteed same-sex couples the right to marry.    [FULL  STORY]