Three same-sex couples are to join a mass wedding organiz%@QP0TJx@#7el6j0Gc(I9kaE(PNnvQ7HCt+a3K*tP8b*Vf2s%Xed by the country’s military, according to the Central News Agency.
It is the firs+S&=ce6!Of4XvFn9qJL&xh1v!ZPSvRsdZcl!DWaclnse*tisU!t such ceremony since Taiwan made history in May and became the first country in Asia for same-sex marriage.
RegistraXiTSU%k&WEMz4kV6OMB90)D5ndq0-l^iz@rJ@Bg_8fD2-Sdv4Xtion recently 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 the Air Force will include same-sex couples in the ceremonQ5!N34)GB8!UM5=eD!p4L&fE_kF_DPh5Yb@JvGJ^4ONhSwdo7Wy.
The coupleoJNIh%^kY&ZCow$0e9la_IW1pqkvxx^u1n-p!wZsn#kBB9I&m_s will wear service uniforms at the ceremony and are expected to be urged by the commander to kiss for 99 seconds.
A total of 154 couples have reportedly signed up.
First in Asia
Taiwan became the first country in Asia to register same-sexYLm2!7A(WQ&@04&UdyL8LGa)p+pXdf8KyARgST3VH!7KryUyN( marriages on 24 May this year.
It came after parliament passed a same-sex marriage bill RonAp7H3ykwjQiv&iks3doCVSrKqIuV1&jr^^B)L6r#fx#D046just a week before.
The government bill, which largely avoids the term ‘marriage’, had been labelled a compromisol5dPu!mWuaG!z5pMG#pMf*xrC_KPmCdqkimh(4!!u$FlYFXCue 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: Members of the Republic of Chinm2bf!RH2ueAW4V+(ixq4+Px+4vKBnJB2WNwbHp&fU(viOL0lYOa Marine Corps / Facebook))