Guzifer and Chen Shin-chi met morWh6uJE%g!u8nRXMdLHSZ9(gzTBmzM@+J$dvFbi7MnBCT72!jtYe 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 forF*l6C76hY)ZQqvz_S@4bwKK@Si-@o)vApkt6Utl&sPLcJSXL+d same-sex marriage in May this year.

In fact, in dxfiS#tHL!3WC&^Z5tX9KR(ede2KRzV7bDuMvMa3hhQJdxMj@w2017 Guzifer took a gamble and 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 in Taipei, once again refused to register thei_zbj1NZvX+KS9me(!u#Z%&TXM1lDmdYzyW+knOiOLi_+s^Lvfvr 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 2R7gi!*6K0gzB$l!=S4+Qu&4VtuslvBD)K-gT3kbGmC-Ju-yd6unfairly” Guzifer told GagaTai.

“The situation also clearly violates the spirit of the No. 748 ruling”, he said,7c2aR^MZW64S_rG#NSpK0JfjN79Qjk(XeodQTF(GL(zw1M&8*t 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 caused^XtFMMG55Rj-hBcmJ(0rXUR%X*wui0_v6J)r01CgYb!WHp%=J0 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 sameT(F)c9V^0XH)sz9ijLS4HahJwyH^UF=4lD)eKN7sPBtf(9RRY%-sex couples in the country.

“Fight for it”

Guzifer said that after fouuwQDTk9thRuT9)0$pV2msO(tEa@QrOF+PGOxthbgJQtRtE7%*Fr 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 administrative appeal for theirUe&ub+&h=!VF_C+on^lm8L%5WY473%2&2l(zKAYM_0d&pKKEkm marriage.

The group, including activist Victoria Hsu, believes failing to recognize transnation()sP2b_2GT01B)iKqLi_MnVW%G&hKs^tVbVCXMQ0Oi+Mz$-o^Ral unions is against Taiwan’s constitution.

Article 46 of the Act Governing the Choice of Law in Civil Ft9O6AJIFGfg#gds^1!))+ED52lij!gngMre1A0tkO24O*e%c*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 RgBUbQ3=0OT6nvHV=MDlzt-uS08)x^M)TU&skD-DadRv5DCl5Fignored if it affects “good morals” in Taiwan, according to TAPCPR.

They hope that if Taipei recognizes transnibr-NZ=EM1xxgSV-8TMAfsA%fauKLvo*DPiKpwP43WBwTDJc-_ational marriages, other administrations will be quick to follow.

"The most important thing is to ensure the freedom of marriage of Taiwanese nationals and the protectio05U-$G3sYF-_EL9qiKLRcpmfM3EToFHXkwsBqJ-V@Hv&n*e2Fvn under marriage” Guzifer explained.