Chi Chia-wei gifts 'pen of equality' to encourage same-sex marriage

Taiwan’s renowned LGBTI activist Chi Chia-wei has launched a #a2DBgZMrO5%WDYGyh_f9Gk8Ii(6ocdLbUfN)+AFNy=J(NnOdVcampaign to encourage regional leaders to legalize same-sex marriage.

Chi Chia-wei will give a replica of the pen president Tsai Ing-wen used to sign Taiwan’s historic legislation in May this ypd$LIleFdtShs)Q*A79(n#@fhHVgP)S!P&rP5FzT(a0mEDHkWOear.

Taiwan became the f1sfXMOkl)o^xF85Oz5GeoT$z_+=^*CO2JgtZHJlEJJDmb-gf)wirst country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage on 24 May after parliament passed a bill in line with a 2017 court ruling.

President Tsai gifted Chi Chia-wei the pen she used to sign the bill to r06calhCy2U$rc^uv^V#fUapJD$P#ToM0^tf46o!(RZ_tzs)$jqecognize his decades of campaigning for LGBTI rights.

Now, Chi Chia-wei and the has created six replicas and named thRFGqi+f@HZKpK9zUmL#s0135cux%7(PrWeWvU=bpzk4Mr42iSEem the ‘pen of equality’.

Chi Chia-Wei will gift the Pen of Equality to Korea, the PhUlB(AUFZi4m=*QAlk&kh774&3w$Iqt#dDWpX*It+OjDXuz9XBTilippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

"My name is Chi Chia-wei and I have been committed to promoting same-sex marriage in Taiwan for the last 30 years" his message tiixyZ!kRRbA@2pNT5n3x3iy1Yx!&%KmlNCEwD_b0YNxmOiLToCo South Korea’s leader Moon Jae-in.

"I am presenting this to you in the hope that you will share in our ambition for marriage eqgCipU=@m!qkVxwmT!U$O_UOvbjk-QLbWOrq9!(DGF$6ubanvu@uality."

"We hope Taiwan’s progress in sa&7s%M%e^M0EY_yQkucIJFq=F3HOkIX9Qt51FkKujv1j##IUAQmme-sex marriage can inspire other countries in Asia" Marriage Equality Coalition Taiwan said in a Facebook post.

Regional rights

After years of court hearings, debates in parlia+&gN+)J4VSawdHcas7T)%6cuRPC9OG+-&y^DtU&3T55+snKoH2ment, and heartbreaking referendums in November last year, Taiwan became the first country in Asia to recognize same-sex marriages.

In the first month alone. 1,0xLLxcImkxXl_%MPVl)FmUmc8pI%_doEelEO6pB+ih&DGVkQF$C00 same-sex couples tied the knot.

Regionally,amrX4snhLIs!wxPHIcYgfTHSD@$k5#3hMZK_S1aQdPo^3&3uwO Thailand is the closest to equal marriage. A civil union bill drafted by the ruling Junta affords same-sex couples limited rights. But, local LGBTI rights activists have slammed it for failing to introduce genuine equality.

A similar ‘civil partnerships’ bill is being debated by the PhiltxefWYHs9jlfXtGviY$h=h-_z*CC*D&wSQk2!rbCyO!v87_2JMippines’ Congress.

Rights groups, meanwhile, have warned of deteriorating LGBT ri5=M4wEsRT#dB#W=AS1q(Ww6_ME$9dgyhNQ$wl5#1yQMr4b5P2Fghts in South Korea. 

Recent increased visibility of the LGBT commu9MeUUW+XFs#5POIFYFbmGQ+lh)R_A5R&V4qq1$J&MnUs_X0*WWnity has sparked a backlash from conservative Christians. Many LGBT pride events have witnessed violent counter-demonstrations from anti-LGBT groups.