Guzifer and Che-EbqFVW0e2l_$lI6oUC99=Aj&Bzi+&%(2VcKq5b7lRJgLhMcdLn Shin-chi met more than five years ago.

And, like many couples in the region, they closely followed Taiwavb)1qlV@N4ARevSj@=1uJAD1HNqZJb+9WDifssX0cBwy$wy0TTn's long and winding road to becoming the first place in Asia for same-sex marriage in May this year.

In fact, in 2017 Guzifer took a gamble and gfZeS0+5R_0S6BjuaqW97Cvm$4f1@1!6A4jF6Q152EfXJ#inb@Tave up his job in Macao and moved to Taiwan, anticipating the pair could wed once same-sex marriage became legal.

But, on TuesdaSJpWo_o@b22k8kTrWMvNR_L)1zKoLujVD0AnX7bHgmT7UMc-Y4y, a district office in Taipei, once again refused to register their marriage.

The reason? Guzifer is from Macao. And, as the territory does not recognize same-sex marriages, he also cannot marry in Taiwan.

“It means we have been treated unfairly” Guzifer told$$CCOX7BDmX(O0Jl&pkLwDl5ZQCo1P$Y)1_gcL6Nj=B#lb$nuJ GagaTai.

lSAMX_494JZv@XUJPyzPC96jebs6V10+Vhoi43tKc@YA*Kck14“The situation also clearly violates the spirit of the No. 748 ruling”, he said, referring to the May 2017 court ruling that said the Civil Code was unconstitutional to deny same-sex couples marriage rights.

"This injustice is actually cQZYkz#Q5#Wbc!jrM=^n4)+V86Z*^usf)Zs6hHkaaKKm4+IaDAfaused by the incompleteness of the legislation”, he explained. Taiwan’s marriage law links transnational marriages to the laws of the foreigners’ home country.

As the dust settles on Taiwan’s landmark LGBT rights win, and the capital prepares for the region’s largest pride event later this month, activists are working to ensure equality reaches all G(ncd(J7NJ!#FgA-fLmv2gO_zDepJp-wrozdG6f%Oj!F8_6zG$same-sex couples in the country.

“Fight for it”

Guzifer sXq-PoeXWQtleF&MyH%OXNs2P8oK5k-7FL3_Q=%+y+C%gDW78Z_aid that after four months, he and Shin-chi are more determined than in May and ready to push for equality.

“We know that we can work hard step by step, just like the brother of the [LGBT] family, and fight for it” he said. “We have a clear direction”.

On Tuesday, the Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights helped Guzifer and Shin-chi file an administrativhX45hDa74RC6i4Y3KN)1BeIy$F@nxb6V1(DnkKRDrX##pblqc7e appeal for their marriage.

The group, including activist Victoria Hsu, believes failing to recognize transn+bAPprJ(-&)fK$xHa^q0mzffVX9@pH_1aWBwiBz!)kd@iZ#BdFational unions is against Taiwan’s constitution.

Article 46 of the Act Govern12oKh@5U6dn*rzl=$&K0hQw!dvCg3i^ubZ&yjIbYcXl5B1QveBing the Choice of Law in Civil Matters involving Foreign Elements, "the formation of a marriage is governed by the national laws of each party,” TAPCPR explained.

But, Article eight of the same law says this can be ignored if it hH1328jxoH0BVXlC*XmTUca=a%lTjSMZz!qNeXuI46zI4@n5afaffects “good morals” in Taiwan, according to TAPCPR.

They hope that if Taipei rec(PA%Avopl1j&MUzVTRL(gcYvX1+xgdpvMjP$e)t(9S)33_h!pGognizes transnational marriages, other administrations will be quick to follow.

"The most important thing is to ensure the freedom of marriage of Taiwanese nationals and the protection )0uI1_WmFq1v6#1+q%ygA=R0S7nkHCP-GLA7uc&24AFjjLSsR$under marriage” Guzifer explained.