By Sally Shakkour
Two women have become the first to get married at a military wedding in Taiwan, on Friday October 30, marking another turning point for LGBTQ+ rights in the region.
The video of the gay couple in the mass military wedding drew mixed reactions on social media as some users were happily sending congrats while others have disagreed with the historic celebration.
Two lesbian couples have become the first to tie the knot at a military wedding in Taiwan, the only country in Asia where same-sex marriage is legal. pic.twitter.com/z7ykbS4Dmi
— DW News (@dwnews) November 1, 2020
Taiwan is the only country in Asia and the first state outside of the United Nations to perform same-sex marriages. The country’s government has issued a law legalizing LGBT marriages on 24 May, 2019.
Taiwan's Defence Ministry welcomed the event as an "open and progressive" move and sent blessings to 188 couples married during the annual mass wedding.
Love wins. Great for them. https://t.co/onBDZYNYyg
— Adams 'Sadam' Korir ?? (@adekorir) November 1, 2020
Another reason we must stand shoulder to shoulder with Taiwan against any outside aggression https://t.co/ke3kOypMUZ
— lee burgess (@leeburgess1) November 1, 2020
Lesbian couple Yi Wang and Yumi Meng have tied the knot amid a mass military wedding ceremony in Taoyuan city, northern Taiwan, although non of the couples’ parents came to the wedding. However, they sent their blessings and support.
Taiwan has held more than 4,000 gay marriages since the legislation was passed in May 2019, with 69% of them being lesbian couples.
And if all people were married in the same way, would life continue?
— Rehab (@Rehab27723103) November 1, 2020
That's Wrong ?
It's not diversity and against God's will!?
— GodIsRighteous (@skydouble1) October 28, 2020
Taiwan’s Ambassador to the US, Hsiao Bi-khim, shared a tweet supporting the marriage saying “Proud that Taiwan has progressed into a society that respects diversity. A first for Taiwan same sex couples: marriage in military wedding - Focus Taiwan”
Proud that Taiwan has progressed into a society that respects diversity. ?A first for Taiwan same sex couples: marriage in military wedding - Focus Taiwan https://t.co/Z3MaPBFqdB
— Bi-khim Hsiao 蕭美琴 (@bikhim) October 27, 2020
Never the less, LGBT rights activists have held a rally during the annual Gay Pride Parade in Taipei, Taiwan on October 31, 2020.
