TAIPEI, Taiwan _ Taiwan's ruling party is set to force through a landmark marriage-equality law in the face of staunch local opposition Friday, making the island the first place in Asia to legalize same-sex unions.
President Tsai Ing-wen's Democratic Progressive Party has ordered its lawmakers to vote in favor of the bill drafted by Taiwan's Cabinet, rather than two rival proposals that would limit rights and protections for same-sex couples. The law would be the first such formal legislation in Asia.
"Good morning #Taiwan. Today, we have a chance to make history & show the world that progressive values can take root in an East Asian society. Today, we can show the world that #LoveWins," Tsai tweeted Friday morning.
More than 35,000 LGBT rights advocates gathered outside the legislature building in Taipei calling for the law's passage, said Jennifer Lu, chief coordinator for Marriage Equality Coalition Taiwan, a gay rights alliance.
Eight months ahead of Taiwan's presidential election, deliberations over gay marriage have laid bare its societal divisions, as typically young urban progressives come out in favor of the measure while religious groups and older voters oppose it.
The outcome could have long-lasting consequences for Tsai, who faces an uphill battle for reelection _ even from within her own party.
"I've never seen a bill so controversial here," DPP caucus leader Ker Chien-ming said in an interview Thursday. "You can use scientific evidence to debate other types of legislation but this bill touches upon people's religion, values and beliefs."
Widespread public opposition to gay marriage, including by DPP supporters, presents Tsai with a dilemma. More than 72% of people voted in favor of keeping restrictions on marriage rights to heterosexual couples in a November referendum.
She signaled her support for the LGBT community before becoming president in 2016. But since then, she has remained largely silent on the issue, preferring to allow the courts and the legislature to take the lead on enacting marriage equality.
Elsewhere in the wider Asia-Pacific region, Australia legalized same-sex marriage in December 2017, and has since held thousands of gay weddings. It's been legal in neighboring New Zealand since 2013.
The constitutional court ruled in May 2017 that language in Taiwan's Civil Code restricting marriage to a man and a woman was unconstitutional, and set a two-year deadline for the legislature to pass regulations governing same sex marriages.
Conservative lawmakers have submitted two competing bills, which refer to partnerships as "same-sex family relationships" or "same-sex unions" rather than "marriages." On Thursday, DPP legislators tweaked the government's bill to remove the word "marriage" in favor of allowing gay couples the right to "register to marry."
Whether or not the legislature passes regulations codifying gay partnerships on Friday, same-sex couples will have the right to marry later this month as the court's 2017 ruling will render legal obstacles to the unions unconstitutional.
More than 200 same-sex couples have registered to marry on May 24, the Taipei-based Apple Daily reported.
The importance of the impending deadline is not lost on the ruling party. "Taiwan can't afford the possible chaos if we don't have legislation in place to govern the civic relations between same-sex couples," Ker said.
