Same-sex marriage supporters celebrate in Taipei after Taiwan (China) became the first place in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage in 2019. Photo: CNN
In 2019, Taiwan (China) became the first territory in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage but did not grant adoption rights to same-sex couples.
Previously, only heterosexual couples and single people were allowed to adopt children to whom they were not biologically related – which created a situation where if same-sex couples wanted to adopt, only one of them could be registered as the child's legal parent, even if both raised them.
“I am very happy that today we have granted the right to joint adoption to same-sex couples,” said Taiwan Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker Fan-Yun, who has fought for LGBTQ equality for years.
“Legally, we have finally returned the children to same-sex couples,” she added.
The Taiwan Civil Partnership Rights Promotion Alliance, an LGBT rights advocacy organization in Taiwan, also called the decision a major step toward achieving full marriage equality. “Today’s success shows that there is a consensus in Taiwan to protect the human rights of LGBT people and promote gender equality,” the alliance said in a statement.
Before the new bill passed, some same-sex couples spent years protesting discrimination in Taiwan's courts.
In a landmark ruling last January, a male couple from Kaohsiung city successfully adopted a child legally – with the court ruling that allowing a joint adoption was in the best interests of their child.
However, the court also dismissed other similar cases and the law restricting their joint adoption rights remained in effect until it was amended today.
The bill comes as Taiwan (China) becomes increasingly aware of full equality in marriage – even though same-sex marriage was legalised four years ago.
In January, the Taiwanese government issued a new directive allowing a Taiwanese person to marry a foreigner of the same sex, even if their partner comes from a region that does not recognize same-sex marriage.
SERIOUS (According to CNN)
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