Taiwan has announced that it will recognise same-sex marriages between Taiwanese and Chinese citizens, effective from September 19, 2024. The decision, revealed by the Ministry of the Interior, comes five years after Taiwan first legalised same-sex marriage. This landmark change allows same-sex couples from Taiwan and China to register their marriages in Taiwan if they wed in a third country that permits same-sex unions.<\/p>\n
The policy shift follows discussions within the Cabinet and aims to standardise the registration process for same-sex marriages, aligning it with the procedures for opposite-sex couples. Under the new regulations, Taiwanese-Chinese same-sex couples must marry in one of the 35 countries that recognise same-sex marriage before submitting their marriage certificate and supporting documents to Taiwanese authorities. An interview is required as part of the registration process, according to Liang Wen-chieh, spokesperson for the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC).<\/p>\n
This update marks a significant step towards marriage equality in Taiwan, which was the first Asian country to legalise same-sex marriage in May 2019. Although Taiwan began recognising transnational same-sex marriages from outside mainland China in January 2023, this latest change addresses a longstanding gap for cross-strait couples.<\/p>\n
Legislator Huang Jie welcomed the announcement, noting that it brings Taiwan closer to full marriage equality. Huang, who has received numerous requests for assistance from cross-strait same-sex couples, praised the move as a significant advancement. She also highlighted the ongoing need for equal treatment of same-sex couples in Taiwan and expressed gratitude to advocacy groups like the Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights.<\/p>\n
Despite the positive development, the group has pointed out that the requirement for couples to marry abroad imposes additional financial burdens compared to opposite-sex couples, indicating further reforms are necessary to achieve complete equality.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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