Taiwan Becomes The First Country In Asia To Legalize Same-Sex Marriage

Taiwan became the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage after its lawmakers spent hours in a voting exercise in parliament.

The passed bill described the partnership as ‘same-sex marriage’ in an attempt to avoid the phrasing to ‘same-sex family relationships’ or ‘same-sex unions’ instead.

However, the move was not well received by conservative groups that threatened to ‘retaliate’ during the next year’s general election saying that the opinion of 7 million people who voted against same-sex marriage in a referendum, last year ‘had been trampled’.

Taiwanese lawmakers became the first in Asia to pass a bill legalising same-sex marriage after the top court struck down a definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman

Gay rights campaigners celebrated in Taipei on Friday as lawmakers passed the bill despite opposition from conservative groups

Lawmakers had been presented with three bills - two of which described the partnerships as 'family relationships' and 'unions' - but passed a law describing them as 'marriages'

Gay rights supporters celebrate outside Parliament in Taipei after lawmakers legalised same-sex marriage

The vote came two years after the country's top court struck down the definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman

Despite joyous scenes outside parliament as the law was passed, a referendum last year showed widespread opposition to the law

This move comes to years after a constitutional court in the country struck down a definition of marriage as being only between a man and a woman. It further issued a two-year deadline for ministers to enshrine the ruling in law.

After the ruling, conservative groups rallied against the purported change and held a referendum in November, last year with a view of keeping the old definition of marriage.

An overwhelming 7.6 million people voted in favor of defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman, with 2 million voting against it.

This comfortable victory didn’t last long for the Conservatives as Taiwan’s president Tsai Ing-Wen pressed on with the change.

Ahead of the recent Parliamentary vote, President Ing-wen tweeted that ‘we have a chance to make history and show the world that progressive values can take root in an East Asian society.

A couple kisses as they celebrate after Taiwan became the first place in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage

The law change has been divisive in Taiwan, which is known for its liberal views but nonetheless faced a conservative backlash

While putting same-sex marriages on the same footing a heterosexual unions, the new law does not grant homosexual couples the same rights to adopt children

Conservative groups promised to 'strike back' at the government in next year's elections, saying the 'will of the people' had been trampled in Friday's vote

A supporter of same-sex marriage wears a badge outside the parliament building as a bill for marriage equality is debated

Same-sex marriage supporters cheer outside the Legislative Yuan, Taiwan's parliament, on Friday after the bill was passed

'Today, we can show the world that Love Wins.'

After the vote, she added: 'On May 17th, 2019 in #Taiwan, #LoveWon. We took a big step towards true equality, and made Taiwan a better country.'

Outside parliament, emotions were running high as campaigners hugged in the charging rain while chanting ‘way to go Taiwan’ and ‘Asia’s first!’

Despite the passed bill being the most progressive out of the three offered to lawmakers, the law still fails to give same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples when adopting children.

Nevertheless, LGBT rights campaigners were quick to support the law, terming it as great progress in the right direction.

In November last year Taiwan held a referendum, launched by conservative groups, which found overwhelming opposition to gay marriage (pictured, supporters celebrate)