marriage equality in Taiwan

What Will Happen If Progressive Taiwanese Civil Society Is Defeated Through The Referendum?

Brian Hioe
Referendum reform has historically been pushed for by progressive civil society groups in Taiwan, as a means to resolve longstanding issues blocked by the KMT and other conservative forces. Progressive civil society groups were finally victorious in amending the Referendum Act last year, lowering the benchmarks needed to hold a referendum in Taiwan. But what if the results of referendum voting tomorrow indicate that, ironically enough, conservatives have managed to hijack the referendum and to use it against progressive civil society?... Read More
#22EnglishNovember 2018Social MovementsTheory and History2 Comments 011 min read

Televised Gay Marriage Debate Suggests What Endgame Of Anti-Gay Groups Is

Brian Hioe
What emerges from a televised debate held on November 15th between New Power Party (NPP) chair Huang Kuo-chang and Tseng Pin-chieh, a professor at the College of Law at National Chung Cheng University, should be highly concerning to supporters of marriage equality in Taiwan. Namely, Tseng’s comments in the debate are highly indicative of what the aims of anti-gay groups in Taiwan are in their referendum against marriage equality, what their current strategy is, and what their endgame likely is... Read More
#22EnglishGender/SexualityNovember 2018Social Movements1 Comment 012 min read

Tens Of Thousands Demonstrate In Support Of Gay Marriage In Taipei

Brian Hioe
A reported 100,000 people attended a rally on Ketagalan Boulevard in support of LGBTQ rights today, with a nationwide referendum on marriage equality and LGBTQ-friendly education scheduled to take place next Saturday. Featuring musical performances and speeches and closing with a performance by heavy metal band Chthonic, fronted by New Power Party legislator Freddy Lim, that the rally would be so large was a surprise to most... Read More
#22EnglishGender/SexualityNovember 2018Social Movements0 Comments 07 min read

140,000 March For 2018 Taiwan Pride, But Challenges Still Remain For Efforts To Realize Marriage Equality

Brian Hioe
The 16th annual pride parade took place today in Taipei, drawing an claimed 140,000 participants, which would be a new record. This year’s pride parade would be a politically charged event, seeing as a referendum on gay marriage is set to take place next month during elections on November 24th, and this question loomed over the event... Read More
EnglishGender/SexualityOctober 2018Social Movements1 Comment 09 min read

What Happens If Marriage Equality Gets Voted Down By Referendum?

Brian Hioe
Many uncertainties remain for efforts to realize marriage equality in Taiwan, with the approval of multiple referendums on marriage equality and sexual education. Two referendums, pushed for by marriage equality supporters, have phrasing favorable to the legalization of marriage equality and have reached the necessary benchmarks to be held. On the other hand, referendums with phrasing unfavorable to gay marriage and sexual education have also reached necessary benchmarks to be held, as pushed for by anti-gay groups... Read More
EnglishGender/SexualityOctober 2018Social Movements0 Comments 05 min read