In first for Taiwan, same-sex couples to join military's mass wedding

Three same-sex couples are to join a mass wedding organized by the country’s military, a[email protected]%=(*br^IiorcAp6sl3ulhTeK1s4!OFR)sVf7+FUz_3Zccording to the Central News Agency.

It is the first such ceremony since TaiwH+bI#tG3y#[email protected](ELrSC6SEkNgdpJXCqJZVL%ELHAjEb0an made history in May and became the first country in Asia for same-sex marriage.

Registration recentlCdObQwKP9Gz_L(M5=hZ+&r2#8Bb)d)liHjSx6E$(Axz-KtRak0y closed for serving men and women to be included in this year’s mass wedding, which will take place in October and November.

CNA reports that both the Navy and thwRL^[email protected]$hIWp2)_=q$RIKZOj6*[email protected]=ANLIB$Te Air Force will include same-sex couples in the ceremony.

The ck)[email protected](b1sAKXiaB^J=(Mhp4W4)yOiljZTouples will wear service uniforms at the ceremony and are expected to be urged by the commander to kiss for 99 seconds.

A total of 154 couples have reportedly signed up.

First in Asia

Taiwan became the first country in[email protected]+^[email protected]!Z#v*bxypgYmgUS04A62hs=wy Asia to register same-sex marriages on 24 May this year.

It came after parliament passed a same-sex marriage bill just a weekQj-^3^[email protected]^bXM!7_6LTgDH45*ay&Ke&)eM0+LnIKlzQ*p9 before.

The government bill, which largely avoids the term ‘marria8cDK_=V0J7XH-0RJbr)YT(!jo5#v&ptQ%Ej2NOIpqTFB=-R5AHge’, had been labelled a compromise by LGBTI rights campaigners.

In 2017, the country’s highest court ruled the Civil Code was unconstitutional for failing to recognize same-sex marriage.

But, in a bitterly-fought referendum, most Taiwanese citizens opted for a separate marriage law rather than changing the civil code which would have brought genuine equality.

LGBTI rights campaigners accused conservative and Christian groups of running a well-funded campaign of hate and scare-mongering.

Taiwan’s parliament voted in favor of a government bill offering same-sex couples similar rights to opposite-sex couples after years of court rulings, referendums, and tussles in parliament.

The crucial 4th line of the bill passed with 93 lawmakers voting for the bill, 66 opposing, and 27 abstaining.

((Photo: MembersnBjUad5D1)x*ROxqL=5d9$#34!laNQAtsVAQCvn1D-RsvulJj1 of the Republic of China Marine Corps / Facebook))