LGBT rights in the Republic of China

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LGBT flag for Taiwan

The Republic of China (Taiwan) is one of Asia's most tolerant countries as far as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) rights are concerned.[1] The government proposed a bill in 2003 to make same-sex marriage legal. It has so far stalled without passage. If the law passes, the ROC would be the first country in Asia to allow same-sex marriages. In 2017, the ROC's Constitutional Court ruled that same-sex marriage should become legal within two years. The ROC is also described as the most liberal after over 30,000 people went to the Taiwan Pride parade in 2010 and 2011, making it the largest LGBT event in Asia.[1][2] On May 17, 2019, the Legislative Yuan approved a bill, submitted by the Executive Yuan, recognising marriage for same-sex couples. The bill was signed into law by President Tsai Ing-wen on 22 May and went into effect on 24 May. Taiwan therefore became the first country in Asia to recognise same-sex marriage.[3]

Living conditions[change | change source]

Same-sex sexual activity legal Yes (Always Legal)
Equal age of consent Yes (Always Equal)
Anti-discrimination laws in employment Yes (Since 2007)
Anti-discrimination laws in education Yes (Since 2004)
Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services Yes (Since 2017)
Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas (incl. indirect discrimination, hate speech) Yes (Since 2017)
Same-sex marriage Yes (Since 2019)[4]
Recognition of same-sex couples Yes (Nationwide Since 2019)
Stepchild adoption by same-sex couples Yes (Since 2019)
Joint adoption by same-sex couples Yes (Since 2022)
LGB people allowed to serve in the military Yes (Since 2002)
Transgender people allowed to serve openly in the military Yes (Since 2022)
Right to change legal gender Yes (Since 2008, but requires sex reassignment surgery)
Third gender option Yes (From 2020)
Intersex minors protected from invasive surgical procedures Yes (Since 2022)
Conversion therapy banned by law Yes (Since 2018)
Homosexuality declassified as an illness Yes
Access to IVF for lesbians Yes (Since 2022)
Automatic parenthood for both spouses after birth Yes (Since 2022)
Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples Yes (Since 2022)
MSMs allowed to donate blood Yes (Since 2022)

References[change | change source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Mark Thompson (April 5, 2012). "The Tasty Charms of Taiwan". EdgeBoston.com. Archived from the original on February 24, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2012. One of Asia's most progressive countries for LGBT rights, Taiwan has enacted legislation that prohibits discrimination against LGBT people in education or in the workplace, and, since 2011, the nation's school textbooks have included LGBT topics. With more than 30,000 attendees, Taiwan's Pride Parade in Taipei is the largest LGBT event in Asia.
  2. Kino (November 4, 2011). "Taiwan is so gay". Taiwan Radio International. Archived from the original on June 3, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2012. Taiwan held its ninth annual Pride Parade last Saturday. It was the biggest pride parade in all of Asia, and drew an estimated 50,000 people.
  3. "Taiwan legalises same-sex marriage, a first in Asia". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. May 17, 2019. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  4. Hollingsworth, Julia (May 17, 2019). "Taiwan passes same-sex marriage bill, becoming first in Asia to do so". CNN. Archived from the original on May 17, 2019. Retrieved May 17, 2019.

Other websites[change | change source]