On May 17, 2019 in a historical decision, Taiwan set an example to the whole world by legalising same-sex marriage. By doing so, Taiwan became the first country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage which will come into existence on May 24, 2019.
It was made possible by a voting process in which the country’s constitutional court ruled same sex marriage as fundamentally legal, and passed the bill in favour of equal marriage and humanitarian rights. The voting took place on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.
Amid heavy rainfall, thousands of LGBTQ community members gathered to celebrate and witness this day. They hugged, kissed and shared love and happiness with their partners. More than a thousand people nominated their names in a mass marriage procession after the court’s decision was made.
In India, on 6 September, 2019 the Supreme Court of India decriminalised homosexuality by declaring Section 377 of the IPC, which was introduced in 1864 during the British rule in India, unconstitutional. And the entire LGBTQ community celebrated this day in the country.
But still, the LGBTQ community in India is widely discriminated. Same sex couples are always in fear and rarely open up. Constitutionally they are accepted, but not in the society and even in their families. This stereotypical thinking is taking away their rights even after it is legal by law and fundamentally correct.
Legalising and accepting same-sex marriage in a country like India is a lot bigger issue than allowing a marriage in a different caste and religion. In short, as of now, nearly impossible.
We need to learn a lot from countries like Taiwan.