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

Three same-sex couples are to join a mass wedding 9eSubIJSVbKwas&FQqNzj&y3u#mg*[email protected](W7porganized by the country’s military, according to the Central News Agency.

It is the first such ceremony since Taiwan made history in May and became t#Qf%5TrMpjq&T&KYfFMVXs1vO_pUIlQA3QmAiN9aBP$KrgxM(Nhe first country in Asia for same-sex marriage.

Registration recently clostq7S$9A)VjlaGcLV&+-cleE%RsDY0AxR*W)QkVmU7wvmZ^u(EUed 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 inUhA%Q#1N8w_5yjfLKR&fU0j3x^1*Q1F+D_v%Gcl^Jcg$wGByqr the ceremony.

The couples will wear service uniforms at the ceremony and a[email protected]^D*YAs#UoET)wP$w26n4uwluCLK1^CME)38bmre 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 )3QrhQ*!7S7V0gsNx$n5_BYjzFp+T#hs4=Z6ti_JX3DI3T72Busame-sex marriages on 24 May this year.

It came after parliament passed a same-sex ma[email protected][email protected])[email protected]*#[email protected]!*Mrriage bill just a week before.

The government bill, which la[email protected]@rGYNLpY!B3u!0%n7FyhiyUoMOi+LEaB3X2(eIv(rgely avoids the term ‘marriage’, 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: Member[email protected]*Rgdr!x&UAFqcmZc677w+YeGHeeADBVs of the Republic of China Marine Corps / Facebook))