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| Taiwan gay marriage: Parliament legalises same-sex unions | Taiwan gay marriage: Parliament legalises same-sex unions |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Taiwan's parliament has become the first in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage following a vote on Friday. | Taiwan's parliament has become the first in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage following a vote on Friday. |
| In 2017, the island's constitutional court ruled that same-sex couples had the right to legally marry. | In 2017, the island's constitutional court ruled that same-sex couples had the right to legally marry. |
| Parliament was given a two-year deadline and was required to pass the changes by 24 May. | Parliament was given a two-year deadline and was required to pass the changes by 24 May. |
| Lawmakers debated three different bills to legalise same-sex unions - the most progressive of which was passed. | Lawmakers debated three different bills to legalise same-sex unions - the most progressive of which was passed. |
| The two other bills, submitted by conservative lawmakers, refer to partnerships as "same-sex family relationships" or "same-sex unions" rather than "marriages". | |
| The government's bill is also the only one to offer limited adoption rights. | |
| Hundreds of gay rights supporters gathered outside the building in the capital of Taipei to await the landmark ruling. | Hundreds of gay rights supporters gathered outside the building in the capital of Taipei to await the landmark ruling. |
| Earlier on Friday, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said in a tweet that the island had a "chance to make history" with the vote. | |
| The change comes despite public backlash to the 2017 court ruling, which pressured the government into holding a series of referendums. | |
| The results showed that a majority of voters in Taiwan rejected legalising same-sex marriage, saying that the definition of marriage was the union of a man and woman. | |
| As a result, Taiwan said it would not alter its existing definition of marriage in civil law, and instead would enact a special law for same-sex marriage. |