Sure, the incoming head of the USA is giving jobs to basically everyone who’s ever tried to oppress queer people. But it’s not all bad news around the world — some good things are evening happening! Really! Kind of! Well, they’re not happening yet, but they could happen in the future, and Harvey Milk says you gotta give ’em hope, so you’re welcome.
A quarter million people have marched in Taiwan, demanding equal rights for same-sex couples. The country could become the first in Asia to legalize the freedom to marry, which would be an amazing milestone. As in many other countries, there’s currently a lot of dispute about whether queers should get full marriage or just a limited form of civil unions.
If marriage rights are extended, the repercussions would be huge — not just for Taiwanese couples, but also for American gays who feel inclined to flee the country under a Donald administration. Marriage is one of the most effective ways of transferring citizenship to another country, so you might want to start poking around OK Cupid’s offerings in Taiwan.
“Same-sex couples also have the right to marriage,” said President Tsai Ing-wen. Various proposals are pending in the government, a feat that’s possible, in part, because the country has a robust multi-party system. Must be nice.
The marches coincided with International Human Rights Day. Meanwhile, the National Organization for Marriage celebrated by vowing to oppress queer people around the world. Irony is dead.
kesen_wang
Hey. Canadian but been living in Taiwan the past four years, Asia for 10. Marriage Equality issue has. Even delayed until around February at this point. Also I understand this is a LGBTQ oriented news organization, but writing that people should scout Okcupid for relationships to obtain citizenship is completely immature and counterproductive to what citizens and residents have been protesting for. FYI, illegally obtaining citizenship by any relationship which is not one formed out of genuine love for each other is not something I would recommend.Assuming you were serious about those claims there are some other serious laws that you should be aware of. A marriage to a Taiwanese citizen is in no way a shortcut to marriage. You will then apply for a APRC which will be dependent on that marriage not having a divorce for a period of around five years, so unless you trust that person completely you could very well end up completely relying on the Taiwanese citizen to keep your citizenship. What’s more is to actually obtain Taiwanese citizenship you will have to renounce your original citizenship for a period of one year compliant with current laws. So if that Taiwanese citizen decides to bail or report the marriage to get out of it during that time, you are stateless and have no citizenship in any country. Probably not something you want to be recommending to your visitors of the site. Lastly, Adulty is still a criminal offense in Taiwan and can be punishable by actual jail time. Not saying that’s an issue but someone who easily recommends browsing Okcupid as a shortcut to citizenship doesn’t seem like someone who’s pursing a legitiment faithful relationship to me. Perhaps you should consider what advice your giving in the future and not only ponder, but respect what it is that citizens are fighting and demonstrating for.