Taiwanese Animators On GOP Debate

TAIWAN: Taipei City Government To Ask Court To Legalize Same-Sex Marriage

Asia One reports:

The Taipei City Government Department of Civil Affairs yesterday stated its decision to petition to the Constitutional Court to make a decision about whether the Constitution forbids the government from restricting marriage rights from same-sex couples and to seek a decision that would require the government to legalize same-sex marriage. Countries all over the world have started to legalize same-sex marriage, Civil Affairs officials said, citing a gradual change in values in the past years. However, when asked whether they supported the right of same-sex couples to marry during their confirmation hearings before the Legislative Yuan, four of the current grand justices of the Constitutional Court said they could not support such a right. In a democratic country, the guarantee of civil liberty is a major issue that governmental bodies must be aware of, but since the Constitutional Court has yet to hand down a decision regarding same-sex marriage, the Civil Affairs department has decided to appeal to the court. It is estimated that the documents supporting the appeal will be delivered to the Ministry of the Interior next week.

Taipei currently grants same-sex couples limited partnership rights. About 2.7 million live within the city limits of Taipei, with about 7.5 million in the metro area.

TAIWAN: Government Prepares To Intro Same-Sex Marriage Legislation

The Global Times reports:

Taiwan plans to draft a same-sex partnership law to further protect the rights of homosexual couples, making Taiwan likely to become the first region in Asia to legalize gay marriage. Following the US Supreme Court's decision on gay marriage in June, judicial authorities in Taiwan announced recently that they decided to draft a same-sex partnership law consistent with the global trend and changing public opinion. They said when polls show that the region's population is ready, a gay marriage law will be drafted. Lo Ying-hsueh, head of Taiwan's judicial body, said the government will put related bills on an online voting platform with the result to serve as a reference for the legislature, the Taiwan-based United Daily News reported Sunday. A poll conducted by judicial authorities in 2013 shows that more than 53 percent support same-sex marriage.

Last year's Taiwan Pride event drew 70,000.

TAIWAN: Dashcam Captures Plane Crash

Via BBC News:

A plane carrying mostly Chinese tourists has crashed into a river in Taiwan, killing at least 25 people. Dramatic video footage emerged showing the TransAsia Airways plane clipping a bridge as it came down shortly after take-off from a Taipei airport. The plane, carrying 58 people, has broken up and the fuselage is lying half-submerged in the Keelung River. Rescue efforts are ongoing. At least 15 people have been pulled out alive, with 18 still missing. Television footage showed some passengers wading clear of the sunken wreckage and a toddler being pulled out alive by rescuers. The ATR-72 turbo-prop plane had just taken off from Taipei Songshan Airport and was heading to the Kinmen islands, just off the coast of the south-eastern Chinese city of Xiamen. It is the second TransAsia ATR-72 to crash in seven months, following an accident last July which killed 48 people and injured 15. The final communication from the pilots to air traffic control was "Mayday, mayday, engine flame out", according to a recording played on local media.

TAIWAN: Pop Star Jolin Tsai Backs Marriage In Heartbreaking Music Video

Via Gay Star News:

The Taiwanese queen of pop Jolin Tsai locks lips with actress Ruby Lin in the music video for her new song, We're All Different, Yet The Same. The clip is based on the true story of a lesbian couple who have been together for more than 30 years. However, when one was hospitalized due to old age and required emergency surgery, her partner could not sign the consent form because she was not a legal spouse or family member. When medical staff asked, 'What is your relationship with the patient?' she could only answer, 'A good friend.'

The song is in Mandarin, but you'll probably need a tissue.

TAIWAN: Pride Parade Draws 70,000

Yesterday the New York Times raved abut the difference between Taiwan and its Asian neighbors:

Waving rainbow flags and banners demanding same-sex marriage, the revelers set off from Taiwan’s presidential palace, drawing cheers and thumbs-up from spectators along the way. For the 13th year in a row, the gay pride march took over the streets of the capital on Saturday in a boisterous, freewheeling demonstration of how far Taiwan has come in the two decades since multiparty democracy replaced martial law and authoritarian rule. But the loudest applause rose when a Malaysian flag or a troupe of Japanese dancers in traditional folk outfits, envoys from more restrictive locales, were spotted amid the throng. When it comes to gay rights in Asia, Taiwan is a world apart. Openly gay and lesbian soldiers can serve in the military, and the Ministry of Education requires textbooks to promote tolerance for gays and lesbians. In recent years, legislators here have passed protections for gays, including a law against workplace discrimination. A bill to legalize same-sex marriage has been introduced in Taiwan’s legislature, although it still faces strong opposition from Christian activists and their allies in the governing Kuomintang. “Taiwan is an inspiration for much of Asia,” said Grace Poore, director of Asia and Pacific island programs at the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission. “They are way ahead of their neighbors.” With its lively news media, panoply of grass-roots organizations and a robust, if sometimes noisy, democracy, this self-governing island has become a beacon for liberal political activism across Asia.

TAIWAN: Thousands Of Gay Marriage Supporters Demonstrate In Taipei

Via AsiaOne News:

An alliance of more than one hundred non-governmental organisations yesterday staged a rally outside the Legislative Yuan urging the government to complete the necessary amendments that will pave the way for the legalization of gay marriage. Dubbed the "rainbow siege," reports indicate that more than 4,000 members of the public participated in yesterday's demonstration at the Legislative Yuan. Demonstrators attached 112 padlocks symbolizing the strangleholds of homophobic opinions labelled with the names of lawmakers on the gates of the Legislative Yuan facing Qingdao East Road. In response to the appeals of activists, 21 lawmakers accepted the invitation to unlock and remove the padlocks with "keys of equality." Demonstration organizers stated that among the 21 lawmakers openly expressing their support for equal marriage rights yesterday, four are aligned to the ruling party while 14 are from the opposition party, with two being independent lawmakers.

The leader of Taiwan's opposition party has announced a public hearing on marriage equality later this month. Same-sex marriage is not presently legal anywhere in Asia, unless you count New Zealand. (Tipped by JMG reader Lulu)

RELATED: In December 2013 a massive crowd in the tens of thousands marched against same-sex marriage in Taipei. American anti-gay sites, including NOM, claimed that the crowd numbered as many as 300,000. Homocon Robert Oscar Lopez is praised the protest on his blog, English Manif.

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MANIF REDUX: Massive Crowd Rallies In Taipei Against Same-Sex Marriage

Waving signs and banners that were clearly lifted from France's vile Manif Pour Tous, tens of thousands marched in Taiwan's capital in protest of a proposed bill to legalize same-sex marriage.

From Focus Taiwan:

The demonstrators, many of whom were parents and children, crowded Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office, raising pink placards that read "Made by Daddy and Mommy," "Defend Marriage" and "Oppose Amendment to Civil Code Article 972," which states that an agreement to marry shall be made by the "male" and "female" parties in a relationship. The Coalition for the Happiness of Our Next Generation, one of the organizers of the event, argues that allowing same-sex couples to marry and adopt children will encourage "sexual liberation," undermine traditional family values and confuse gender roles for children. Any changes to the marriage system should be put to a national referendum, the coalition said. "God created human beings as male and female. Only the union of a man and a woman can create the next generation, and the ability to create offspring is an important function of a family," said 40-year-old Ann Huang, who joined the rally with her friends.

From the Taipei Times:

“God loves people, but He doesn’t love sinners,” demonstrator Hsu Chu-min said. “Homosexuals should abandon their sin. Homosexuality is against human nature.” A high-school student who wished to be known as Nelson took part in the rally in a Nazi uniform. “I am against homosexuality, and so were the Nazis; this is why I am wearing this uniform,” he said. “I don’t care if others criticize me, because those who criticize me will be condemned as well.” As many speakers at the rally accused gay rights activists of trying to push for sexual liberation, incest, group sex and bestiality through legalizing same-sex marriage and family diversity proposals, several gay rights advocacy groups tried to hold a press conference to clarify their stance. However, many activists were circled, pushed and driven away when they passed through the crowd of demonstrators.

American anti-gay sites, including NOM, are claiming today that the crowd numbered as many as 300,000. Homocon Robert Oscar Lopez is praising the protest on his blog, English Manif. The marriage bill passed its first reading before the national legislature in late October and is now before three committees for review. Recent polls show the Taiwanese public is strongly divided on the issue.

Taiwanese Animators Skewer Cindy Jacobs

TAIWAN: Thousands March For Marriage

Tens of thousands marched in Taipei's gay pride parade today in support of a marriage equality bill under consideration by the Taiwanese legislature. Via Reuters:

Taiwan's legislature on Friday began a review of a gay marriage bill, which has the support of 53 percent of the public, according to a recent opinion poll, though acceptance of a gay family member remains low. "Chinese families are still very traditional," said Jennifer Lu of the counselling group Taiwan Tongzhi Hotline Association and one of the hosts on the centre stage. "People still emphasise having an heir and passing on the family name." On a cool autumn day, the 11th annual parade was marked by colourful costumes, plenty of exposed skin, musical performances and vendors lining the route to and from the city hall. Spokeswoman Meico Tsai praised the liberal attitudes that have put Taiwan far ahead of its neighbours in terms of tolerance of gays. "Compared to other Asian countries, we're more open, but we still have a long way to go," she said. Sexual-orientation education is a part of the primary school curriculum and LGBT individuals enjoy legal protection from hiring discrimination and other forms of prejudice. "Korea is much more conservative," said South Korean national Carmen Yoon, a first-time attendee. "I hope Taiwan will legalise gay marriage and we can follow their example."

The marriage bill is sponsored by the opposition Democratic Progressive Party and is before the legislature's judiciary committee.

TAIWAN: 53% Back Marriage

A new poll out of Taiwan shows 53% support same-sex marriage. In 2003 the government proposed legalizing same-sex marriage but backed down after facing opposition from legislators.  More from the poll:

Younger highly educated people without a clear religious background were the most likely to support legal marriage or to change a previous negative attitude, Chien said. Of respondents between the ages of 20 and 29, 78 percent approved of gay marriage, of those with a university degree, more than 70 percent did, and of people without any religious affiliation, 58 percent did, the survey showed. Catholics and Protestants only registered an average support level of 25 percent for gay marriage, while the figure stood at 55 percent for non-religious people, Buddhists and Taoists, according to the polling data.

An activist group plans to hold a mass symbolic wedding outside the president's office building on September 7th.  (Via JMG reader Sarah)