By Chih-Chieh Chien | Secretary-general of TAPCPR
Dear donors,
Thank you for your support of marriage equality in Taiwan. Last year three referenda proposed by anti-LGBT+ groups passed the threshold of 25% of eligible voters. This result created a considerable amount of uncertainty in whether or not marriage equality, as demanded by Taiwan’s Grand Justices, will be implemented as originally expected on May 24, 2019.
The TAPCPR legal team has proceeded with litigation with the hope of invalidating the anti-LGBT+ referenda. Unfortunately, however, after 3 months of intensive court hearings, two cases on marriage equality closed against our favor this month (March 2019). Further appeal remains under consideration by our legal team; litigation over gender equality education is still in progress.
Facing this new post-referendum situation, our campaign continues and we carried out subsequent seminars throughout Taiwan to brief the public on the situation. We also organized trainings for local groups seeking ways to influence local politics. In the last 3 months, we have held 13 seminars, 2 two-day volunteer-training workshops and connected 7 local advocacy groups for the “Guardian of J. Y. Interpretation No. 748” rally on the evening of December 25, 2018.
The Enforcement Act of the Judicial Yuan Interpretation No. 748 proposed by Taiwan’s Executive Yuan in February 2019 does not include the right to marry between international partners. In this case, the Taiwanese government will only recognize international marriages from the 26 countries that already allow same-sex marriage. However, there are many same-sex couples in Taiwan with foreign partners from Southeast Asia. This draft law is inhumane and shatters their hopes to stay in Taiwan and start a family. Therefore, we have started to work on these matters over the past 2 months. Aside from arranging a press conference, we also made frequent visits and addressed petitions to legislators, in order to highlight the plight of international same-sex couples to the Taiwanese government.
It still remains uncertain whether marriage equality will be justly implemented this May. We will continue dedicating ourselves to this just cause and will exhaust every measure we can. Thank you again for your concern and attention to marriage equality in Taiwan. Your support is vital to our work!
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