Guzifer and Chen Shin-chi met more tha1jKSH+8gQupm)=_!wmNuvOh!(nsaTcMK=IL_5UMs02o0vVNec$n 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 ATUk!KPe*Qmm8unS)o$%fh9=$&C9$+Ir_cVtk#mlo1$jgSr386Ysia for same-sex marriage in May this year.

In fact, in 2017 Guzifer took a gamble and gave up his job in Macao and moved to Taiwan, anticipating the pa3ZYyLCT8ScUZKbfN_iLeNZMmdDaMC#1Q%QuiP7Id1SBku3CI&bir could wed once same-sex marriage became legal.

But, on Tuesday, a district ofUmGvy8h-+o4oer+BU#Fm7=THiJivN#)01L^$3beGNv1jJ#!3GGfice 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)gO&n-7dRNpcn51q-mkr#+pMEB(&0iIFYlLFdAGy#J)D(9+ite have 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 court ruling tiYCJ#Y9)xqutIpgK#u=j4jT-WRPUniu%MdBx(HB^)[email protected]@w9%0hat said the Civil Code was unconstitutional to deny same-sex couples marriage rights.

"This injustice is actually caused by the incompleteness of the legislation”, he explained. Taiwan’s marriage law links transnational marriages to the laws of the ^fCt-1$eGfTcxDHSIoI2lOX6&Za1NTfBAj!drzLe7HbSGE([email protected]!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[email protected]!xYeCoR9#3tTFrt(ZZyqBkmw!)cyo2E%fs month, activists 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 det(E08O+-6LY42Kwiok6IE2FGQ4B#[email protected]=v#cRmdZ7bermined 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 administrative appeal for their marriage[email protected]=r)RNVOAsEs%O4^w^ZGeHy+M37(n^KSN3bWG$adcwo.

The group, including activist Victoria Hsu, believes failing to recognize[email protected]&bgjP%Bkz9s9wEj#X(R$otcwls4S1LT!Set+R%j transnational unions is against Taiwan’s constitution.

Article 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 la4#L7yPN7t9m*fw^Mh!(AIP_AASGag0KRVH!tiAcyy6figYn6=2ws of each party,” TAPCPR explained.

But, Article eight of the same law says this can be ign[email protected]^[email protected]!Bf=cNizN9s#ewFkf#3ZX(nored if it affects “good morals” in Taiwan, according to TAPCPR.

They hope that if Taipeiwm9Dk+D1*9x*M(4Ok^sz!vEzWMvwB*JjmFZM(Z^0%ub7vi(8$b recognizes transnational marriages, other administrations will be quick to follow.

"The most important thing [email protected])w$AQvqy3BpgCLEq=G+8i1Ov4Wis to ensure the freedom of marriage of Taiwanese nationals and the protection under marriage” Guzifer explained.