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China

On This Day | Taiwan is first in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage after landmark 2019 ruling – from the SCMP archive

  • On this day five years ago, Taiwan lawmakers voted in favour of recognising same-sex unions
  • A week later, the law came into effect as Asia’s first legal gay weddings were officiated

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Couples Shane Lin (right) and Marc Yuan, and Cynical Chick (left) and Li Ying-Chien, kiss after registering for marriage at the Household Registration Office in Taipei, Taiwan on May 24, 2019. Photo: Reuters
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On this day in 2019, Taiwan legalised same-sex marriage – a landmark ruling that made it the first place in Asia to do so. In these newspaper clippings and pictures, we look at the Post’s coverage of the momentous occasion.
A clipping from the front page of the Post on May 18, 2019. Photo: SCMP
A clipping from the front page of the Post on May 18, 2019. Photo: SCMP
Same-sex marriage supporters gather outside the Legislative Yuan in Taipei, Taiwan on May 17, 2019. The signs read ‘’Vote Can’t Be Defeated’’. Photo: AP
Same-sex marriage supporters gather outside the Legislative Yuan in Taipei, Taiwan on May 17, 2019. The signs read ‘’Vote Can’t Be Defeated’’. Photo: AP
The day the law was being voted on, nearly 300 gay and lesbian couples applied to register for legal union on the day the bill was to come into effect. Photo: EPA-EFE
The day the law was being voted on, nearly 300 gay and lesbian couples applied to register for legal union on the day the bill was to come into effect. Photo: EPA-EFE
Same-sex marriage supporters pose for a photo during a parliament vote on three draft bills of a same-sex marriage law on May 17, 2019. Photo: Reuters
Same-sex marriage supporters pose for a photo during a parliament vote on three draft bills of a same-sex marriage law on May 17, 2019. Photo: Reuters
A couple kisses as they celebrate after Taiwan became the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage. Photo: Reuters
A couple kisses as they celebrate after Taiwan became the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage. Photo: Reuters

A week later on May 24, 2019, the law came into effect. Couples arrived in government offices early in the morning to be among Asia’s first legally recognised gay weddings and a mass banquet was held in front of Taipei’s Presidential Palace.

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