Guzifer and Chen Shin-cl48WV%ocQ7MGE@Oe_ZW1(YNWmQsmS4LrKf^^SvLK4d@)Cd_E@hhi met more than five years ago.

And, like R0zY+vIsQcp7Tj)#xpVwOc%FS32CH$0N70UDHiEQmTDwXa$7C7many couples in the region, they closely followed Taiwan'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 gave up his job in Macao and moved to Taiwan, anticipating th_sRiE@vN*vOh4gf%O4qZ_OXOXEzYa#ewltlyScg2OAlP($5%NMe pair could wed once same-sex marriage became legal.

But, on Tuesday, a district office in Taipei, once again refused to register their mvbPOdBLp0Z=39KJ3Rva*v7778+$WMT4@hn)E^WrxCe4Kk(EWeJarriage.

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 p=59!8ekFpx^A9^gOmSmI1l4-L9h8SEL+%$Oek%-Lg)5M=_6tmGagaTai.

“The situation also clearly violates the spirit of the No. 748 ruling”, he said, referring to theFX%!Xj-q@$%Q!VqM4hXjHivg3fIP=yv693ArWVFQ2fibk8%QuA May 2017 court ruling that 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 Fte0)eQvY_sl&N0Obl%qL77!h4QE9ETFNdvOJp+a&C4WN%#pGRthe 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 equaZXbmf@Cqd(A4I&k^Ee+wypoXg4fqH@m+nzVz_&ub6oGC32)^G(lity reaches all same-sex couples in the country.

“Fight for it”

Guzifer said that after four months, he and Shin-chi are more determined than in May and ready to pushS*O9X_ri9!CKx)Tgyg$AKPULIIbn5nt*3+S%#yKRsj)ijDLc#h 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 NZf55&!NsmE==0ADP+ZsJzLPqAK=8EUAGUukBhq)M5lIAkGQesfile an administrative appeal for their marriage.

The group, incCs-m#zOpZY$V_gu%bL^*sBWu8sdF^5AO97!g(ul_GUk*jv@^6Nluding activist Victoria Hsu, believes failing to recognize transnational unions is against Taiwan’s constitution.

UMG=9CuuYFh1SuOi#dzp1eO^f%6$!Y%c2jI1ZR5%T=Ygnw6(4gArticle 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 ignored if it affects “good moV@2k!sXV%SalfLw&H6&=k-&A&0^(cI7Tay)0+HbAByrM*JeD*Brals” in Taiwan, according to TAPCPR.

They hope that if Taipei recoFB7fwP-QkNALma%bTpd#0afn--ZT+AHNEXF@$mmtL8KF(BbLlpgnizes transnational marriages, other administrations will be quick to follow.

"The most(C=NW=Hph7!zTsn0&3%iYx*FhHZf^hq0vmxQ!XeEajGk8BFG^7 important thing is to ensure the freedom of marriage of Taiwanese nationals and the protection under marriage” Guzifer explained.