Hundreds of thousands march for marriage equality in Taiwan amid referendum debate
Source: Reuters
WORLD NEWS OCTOBER 27, 2018 / 4:22 AM / UPDATED 3 HOURS AGO
Hundreds of thousands march for marriage equality in Taiwan amid referendum debate
TAIPEI (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands marched through Taiwans capital on Saturday to press the government to deliver on its promise of marriage equality amid an increasingly heated debate over whether civil laws should recognize same-sex marriage.
In Asias first such ruling, Taiwans constitutional court declared in May last year that same-sex couples had the right to legally marry, and set a two-year deadline for legalization.
But the self-ruled island will hold a series of public votes on same-sex marriage on November 24, after its election authority approved separate referendum petitions from both conservative and rights groups.
The move has revived a debate over a possible separate law for civil unions between gay couples and presents a challenge to President Tsai Ing-wen, who rights activists say has made little progress on the issue despite campaigning on a promise of marriage equality in the run-up to elections in 2016.
The 16th annual parade in Taipei, the largest of its kind in East Asia, featured colorful costumes, musical performances and rainbow flags as protesters gathered near the Presidential Office.
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https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-lgbt-parade/hundreds-of-thousands-march-for-marriage-equality-in-taiwan-amid-referendum-debate-idUSKCN1N1090