Taiwan\u2019s constitutional court began hearing a landmark case on Friday that could make the island the first place in Asia to allow same-sex marriage. \u00a0A panel of 14 grand justices will hear a debate over a disputed law that critics say is unconstitutional because it prevents unions between gay couples.<\/p>\n
Two petitions for an interpretation of Taiwan\u2019s Civil Code have been brought by veteran gay rights activist Chi Chia-wei and the Taipei city government, which has been receiving a growing number of requests to register gay marriages.<\/p>\n
Lawyers for Chi, legal experts and government officials will take part in the court debate, with a ruling expected within two months. \u00a0\u201cThe constitutional court\u2019s decision is legally binding,\u201d said Hsieh Kuo-lien, a law professor at the National University of Kaohsiung. \u00a0\u201cIf its decision is favourable to gay rights activists, it would be effectively legalising same-sex marriage.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the centre of the case is a clause in the Civil Code that says an agreement to marry should be made between a man and a woman. \u00a0Authorities in Taiwan have been rejecting applications for same-sex marriages based on this clause. \u00a0The court will hear arguments over whether that part of the Civil Code contravenes elements in Taiwan\u2019s constitution which guarantee equality and freedom of marriage. \u00a0It comes after the first draft of a bill to legalise gay marriage was passed by Taiwan\u2019s parliament in December.<\/p>\n
A legislative committee approved an amendment to the civil law that would allow gay couples to legally tie the knot. \u00a0That bill is now due for a second reading. \u00a0The debate has split society, with conservative groups saying allowing same-sex unions would destroy family values. \u00a0Both sides have staged huge marches in recent months, with tens of thousands of people taking to the streets.<\/p>\n
Activist Chi brought the petition to the constitutional court after multiple failed legal bids to seek recognition of his marriage. \u00a0His latest setback was in 2014 when the Taipei High Administrative Court ruled in favour of a government agency that turned Chi and his partner away when they tried to legally register their union.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am cautiously optimistic as the world trend is to recognise same-sex marriage and the grand justices are unlikely to bar it,\u201d Chi said ahead of the court hearing on Friday. \u00a0Past attempts to legalise same-sex marriage stalled under the Kuomintang party, which dominated politics for decades until it was unseated by President Tsai Ing-wen\u2019s Democratic Progressive Party last year.<\/p>\n
Campaigners were given new hope when Tsai was elected as she has openly supported marriage equality.<\/p>\n
Source:\u00a0scmp.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"