Almost 4,000 same-sex couples have registered in Taiwan, according to the Ministry of Interior.

This figure comes after Taiwan voted against the constitutional legalization of same-sex marriage in a referendum on 24 November.

A total of 3,951 same-sex couples registered over a period of three-and-a-half years.

While LGBTI rights activists said that the increasing number of registrations is a sign of progress, only full marriage would give same-sex couples equal rights.

The areas with the highest number of registered same-sex couples were Taipei, New Taipei, and Taichung, according to Taiwan News.

The southern municipality of Kaohsiung was the first to launch registrations for same-sex couples in May 2015.

However, Kaohsiung only had 173 same-sex couples registered, the lowest number of the six municipalities listed.

Special legislation for same-sex unions
In December 2017, Taiwan’s Constitutional Court ruled that the current marital restrictions were unconstitutional.

However, November’s referendum saw voters reject making amendments to the constitution to recognize marriage equality, thereby keeping marriage between a ‘man and a woman’.

The referendum’s outcome was seen as a major blow to LGBTI rights activism in Asia.

Following the vote, Taiwan’s government has reportedly begun drafting a special legislation which would allow same-sex couples similar rights to those already protected by the constitution.

However, equal rights campaigners maintain that any special legislation would fall short of full equality for same-sex couples.

Marriage equality activists continue to demand amendments to the current civil legislation.

by Calum Stuart
Source – Gay Star News