Fridae

Taiwan is closer to becoming the first country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage after the country's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) proposed an amendment to the country’s Civil Code on Monday.

The amendment, which has already been passed by the Procedures Committee, would alter Article 972 of the code changing the definition of marriage from “man and woman” to “two parties.” 

The change would allow two people of the same sex to legally marry and enjoy the same rights as a husband and wife, including rights to adpot.

The bill passed the committee with the support of 38 lawmakers, over double the 15 threshold needed. Among them 34 were from the DPP, 1 from the opposition party Kuomintang (KMT) and three from Taiwan's third largest party, the New Power Party (NPP).

Yu Mei-nu, a convener of the Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee, proposed the amendment at a press conference in Taipei.

A same-sex marriage bill cleared a first reading in the Legislative Yuan in 2013, but failed to pass three readings by late 2015.

Freddy Lim, a NPP lawmaker and lead vocalist of the Taiwanese heavy-metal band Chthonic, said in a Facebook post he believed Taiwan "will certainly be the first country with equal marriage rights in Asia."

Taiwan’s third largest political party, the New Power Party, displayed a large rainbow flag outside the legislative Yuan on Monday reading “New Power Party Supports Marriage Equality.”

The news comes as Taiwan's capital city prepares for what is often slated as the largest LGBT pride march in Asia.

Taipei Pride will kick off at 1.30pm on Saturday 29 October outside the Presidential Office on Ketagalan Boulevard and has the theme "Let's have fun and break `fake friendliness’.”

Held annually since 2003, last year Taipei Pride saw more than 78,000 take to the streets to celebrate LGBT and push for equality.

The run up to the parade this year has seen LGBT rights make national headlines. 

After French professor Jacques Picoux died of suspected suicide months after his partner, Zeng Jingchao, died from cancer.

The lack of legal status of the 35-year relationship and the problems encountered by Picoux after Zeng’s mean activists are calling on Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen to make good on her election promises of same-sex marriage.