1 Feb 2016

Taiwan's Tainan to register gay couples

Tainan, a city in the South West of Taiwan, becomes the country's fourth city to register same-sex relationships

Tainan's mayor, William Lai, has announced that the city will begin to allow household registration of gay couples. It joins Kaohsiung, Taipei and Taichung.

"Tainan is an ancient capital, but we have always upheld an attitude of respect, understanding and tolerance to the city’s gay couples," Lai said according to Gay Star News.

He said that the city government were pushing through legislation to recognize same-sex couples and that the central government needed to catch up.

"As the central government is slow to legislate on this urgent need, the Tainan city government is willing to take concrete action to express support and protect the rights of same-sex couples," he said.

Two weeks ago Taiwan elected their first female president Tsai Ing-wen who has come out in support of same-sex marriage in the past. LGBT activists hope she will push through recognition of gay marriage during her presidency.