Guzifer and Chen Shin-chi metLOyN2)L1Q!6LY!Xj$OcRA0s-kD^_sDHv4ex)4+C+FDgiNGyak3 more than five years ago.

And, like many couples in the region, they closely followed Taiwan's long and winding road to becoming the first place in Asia fULzATk^^d%HXwjH5GyMZfFKDkqlGhBNhTq)2ds6v-LP1b)EbSdor same-sex marriage in May this year.

In fact, in 2017 Guzifer took a gamble and[email protected]^dD)@Jj*wf664YofJ(U%93*pZr&omS$my gave up his job in Macao and moved to Taiwan, anticipating the pair could wed once same-sex marriage became legal.

But, on Tuesday, a district office iiEBXGwbqfET28kkJ4yjk6DU0rOwda8ShRoo^j5P-I^fN7)l(Eon 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 hQdYlkUUY5A(xljSl-P1aWfWqqZtJXItaeH*6i8I6iZwi&Kg!Agave been treated unfairly” Guzifer told GagaTai.

“The situation also clearly violates the spirit of the No. 748 ruling”, he said, referring to the May 2017 cM=2Kc_Hu^W0C!r+YA8s2bJucLGp#jtya36Z%tAi)k3gN##DZ6Rourt ruling that said the Civil Code was unconstitutional to deny same-sex couples marriage rights.

"This injustice is actually caused by the incompleteness of ZA&2^yCtCnCKt%3kqLOWGow)Q1cPEKB9lg-+KO6ZF^[email protected]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, activVg%DAjzY&CE7F8OvVAlwmbNjK7fyE9CjHVZ&hrT9jd&Gi!n50Oists are working to ensure equality reaches all same-sex couples in the country.

“Fight for it”

Guzifer said that after four months, he and Shin-chi are more determined thar2yofBFX-Vce4jj*b-pVxJgR$CKo4_E=t3OI383O&rKq3Na4hVn 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 Tuesda[email protected](-c4r_U46%hy, the Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights helped Guzifer and Shin-chi file an administrative appeal for their marriage.

The group, including activist Victoria Hsu, believes failing to recognize tra#GF-LPOGwZIyrPX325RA3bY+=XaV*NC7h2QSgqtDZlOByeyMzInsnational unions is against Taiwan’s constitution.

ArtlJUn8ac$PoYrxmYAZ*3!r1VjowvMz=A1^GDN)=UR1SIT!yA7T+icle 46 of the Act Governing 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 ignDV0P(gbUnt+0T!_vk-5*[email protected]#E*bjbFored if it affects “good morals” in Taiwan, according to TAPCPR.

They hope that if Taipei recognizes transnational marriages, other*p)VIpJUsP78pLjy_h$0lRFpyKYo2%sBTgoq84oH&(IjsDmXVt administrations will be quick to follow.

"The most important thing is to ensure the freedom of marriage of Taiwanese nationals and the prot[email protected]#WPnCJsjxpt(XKBvutWz#x+Q&Ku4p4mVoQHW=ection under marriage” Guzifer explained.