On August 3, the Ministry of Justice launched an online survey titled “Are you in favor of the same-sex marriage law?” on the website of the National Development Council under the Executive Yuan. The survey covers three same-sex issues for the public to vote online and will be cutoff three months later. The responses will be used as further reference for amending or enacting relevant laws.

Storm Media reports, 61 percent out of 5,125 people support the agenda, “Do you favor the regulation of same-sex marriage law?” Among 4,262 people, 48 percent support the regulation of same-sex partner law. The number of people who answered the last question, “Are you in favor of giving gay people marital or marriage-like statuses by enacting laws to protect their rights and legal status?” reached up to 11,724 and supporters count for 66 percent.

Newtalk reports, the Ministry of Justice explains that legalizing same-sex marriage allows marriage to not be limited to men and women, and admits that homosexual couples can share the same rights, duties, and legal statuses.

The same-sex couple law is to be enacted progressively in order to allow couples to enjoy the similar rights as husband and wife. The existing marriage law will not be modified.

Apple Daily reports, according to the Ministry of Justice, a total of number of 21 countries acknowledge same-sex marriage and 13 countries accept only same-sex couples. No laws related to same-sex couples or same-sex marriage exist in Asia.

Liberty Times reports, many people have been debating intensely over this survey. Some suspect the Ministry of Justice shouldn’t enact a specific law for homosexual people, but should directly modify the Civil Code to equally protect both homosexual and heterosexual people.

Translated by June
Edited by Olivia Yang

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