Editor’s Note: This article is the first in an ongoing WPR series on LGBT rights and discrimination in various countries around the world.
In late May, Taiwan’s Constitutional Court ruled that a ban on same-sex marriage in the country’s civil code was unconstitutional. As Buzzfeed reports, the ruling says that permitting same-sex marriage would contribute to a “stable society.” It ordered the government to change the law within two years, making it likely that Taiwan will become the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage. In an email interview, Jens Damm, associate professor at the Graduate Institute of Taiwan Studies at Chang Jung Christian University, describes the domestic debate over the law and LGBT rights in general.
WPR: What is the current level of acceptance for LGBT people in Taiwan, and how has this evolved in recent years?