Who will be Asia’s Next Unicorn? Comparing Marriage Equality in Taiwan with Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea

ABSTRACT

In May 2019, Taiwan became the first country in Asia to introduce same-sex marriage. This article compares the path to same-sex marriage in Taiwan with the situation in three of its neighbours – Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea – where similar debates have proceeded without yet achieving marriage equality. Advocates for marriage equality in Taiwan’s neighbours can learn some lessons from the experience of the island democracy. First, the struggle for marriage equality is a long-term effort that is built on progress in LGBTQ rights in general and on a broad coalition of supporters from civil society and political parties. Taiwan was already home to Asia’s most vibrant LGBTQ community and movement, and has enacted anti-discrimination legislation. Second, the island has introduced gender education in schools, and this shaped the younger generation’s positive attitude towards marriage equality. Third, discourses on rights need to be adapted to a country’s culture and values. Taiwanese advocates for marriage equality not only talked about marriage equality as a fundamental human right but also stressed values such as mutual respect and a stable partnership and family.

KEYWORDS:

• Marriage equality
• Taiwan
• Hong Kong
• Japan
• South Korea
• LGBTQ rights
• human rights

Acknowledgements

I want to express my deep gratitude to all my interview partners and to Jennifer Lu (呂欣潔), Joyce Teng (鄧築媛), the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the German Institute in Taipei, and the European Union Centre at National Taiwan University, for helping me to establish contact with many of my interview partners. I also want to thank the three anonymous reviewers and the journal’s editor for their valuable comments.