Victorious day for same sex marriage

Victorious day for same sex marriage

At 4:00 p.m. on May 24, 2017, Taiwan’s chief justices, 15 of them, issued their constitutional interpretation No. 748 entitled “freedom of marriage between two persons of the same sex” saying that stipulations of Civil Law disallowing equal guarantees to spouses in same sex marriages are unconstitutional, thus the interpretation will allow the legalization of same sex marriages under the civil code.  The interpretation also sets a time limit on civil code revision of two years.  If the civil code is not revised and amended in two years’ time, same sex couples will be allowed under civil code to become fully guaranteed married couples.

The interpretation thus mandates a two-year period for the Legislature to revise and amend the civil code of the Civil Law, or to enact a separate law to allow fully guaranteed same sex marriage, or to submit the issue of legalization of same sex marriage to public vote.

Supporters of same sex marriage cried in relief as they heard the announcement of the constitutional interpretation No. 748.  May 24, 2017, is a victorious day for same sex marriage advocates, they cried in joy.