Being gay in Asia
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Death of gay professor could see Taiwan introduce marriage equality!
Taiwan could then become the first Asian country to legalise same-sex marriage.
Friends believe he had taken his own life, and blamed depression brought on after the death of his Taiwanese partner of 35 years, Tseng Ching-chao, who had been living with cancer, according to The Guardian.
Jacques, who taught at the National Taiwan University, had been denied the right to make decisions in Tseng’s final moments and later found had no legal claim over their shared property – all because they weren’t married.
The Taiwain LGBT Hotline Association, a prominent rights group, said: “How many more human lives do we have to lose as a result of the government’s gross negligence?”
Despite the tragedy, LGBT activists have called it a “pivotal moment” in the equal rights movement, and have placed pressure onto President Tsai Ing-wen, who pledged to improve equality when he was elected in January.
The ruling Democratic Progressive Party tabled a new draft bill earlier this week which aims to legalise same-sex marriage, and has been described as a “breakthrough” for equal rights.
DPP member Yu Mei-nu, who drafted the new law, said: “This story touched people. The LGBT group were very angry. It has put a lot of pressure on our party and on other parties.”
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i really hate to put a damper on this here thread but i see no reason for gays to be married in taiwan or anywhere else for that matter. you love each other, you stay together. thats all there is to it. marriage introduces more problems than it solves regardless if its traditional or gay.
what is good with being a legally married gay couple? aside from that 1 day of celebration and gifts and the paper that follows and the civil union that benefits both financially. what else is there? marriage does not assure anyone of monogamy that is for sure and we know how we lust over married men, its an added appeal, and an added danger. what about gay divorce? the first gay couple divorced soon after. its foreboding. it opens ways for unscrupulous gays to turn love into money in their favor. more worries than assurances.
practically speaking, gays are better off without marriage. why follow the example of traditional marriage? are we so obsessed with the perceived allure of eternal romance and love by symbolic rituals and a couple of gold rings? we know better than the straight people. lets not get too hung up on this. marriage is an industry if you have to be reminded. both of you can save your money by living together just like a married couple. there is nothing wrong with that.
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i really hate to put a damper on this here thread but i see no reason for gays to be married in taiwan or anywhere else for that matter. you love each other, you stay together. thats all there is to it. marriage introduces more problems than it solves regardless if its traditional or gay.
what is good with being a legally married gay couple? aside from that 1 day of celebration and gifts and the paper that follows and the civil union that benefits both financially. what else is there? marriage does not assure anyone of monogamy that is for sure and we know how we lust over married men, its an added appeal, and an added danger. what about gay divorce? the first gay couple divorced soon after. its foreboding. it opens ways for unscrupulous gays to turn love into money in their favor. more worries than assurances.
practically speaking, gays are better off without marriage. why follow the example of traditional marriage? are we so obsessed with the perceived allure of eternal romance and love by symbolic rituals and a couple of gold rings? we know better than the straight people. lets not get too hung up on this. marriage is an industry if you have to be reminded. both of you can save your money by living together just like a married couple. there is nothing wrong with that.
You really have a hateful and distorted view of marriage.
In the US, for example, marriage gives you over 1,400 rights/privileges that you do not get otherwise. European countries have similar things.
Prior to gay marriage in the UK, gay couples were not given the same right to be placed in the same nursing home as hetero married couples. The same thing with immigration.
You don't need an expensive wedding/civil partnership/civil union. We only had our witnesses and took them out for lunch afterward.
You do sound like a lawyer who wants to profiteer from couples not getting married and doing things through legal contracts. Contracts still won't get you anywhere near all the legal rights/privelegs you get under marriage law.
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What an absurd outlook. You obviously know nothing about the laws in countries regarding marriage Gay or otherwise Porky. Time to do some homework lad.
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i really hate to put a damper on this here thread but i see no reason for gays to be married in taiwan or anywhere else for that matter. you love each other, you stay together. thats all there is to it. marriage introduces more problems than it solves regardless if its traditional or gay.
what is good with being a legally married gay couple? aside from that 1 day of celebration and gifts and the paper that follows and the civil union that benefits both financially. what else is there? marriage does not assure anyone of monogamy that is for sure and we know how we lust over married men, its an added appeal, and an added danger. what about gay divorce? the first gay couple divorced soon after. its foreboding. it opens ways for unscrupulous gays to turn love into money in their favor. more worries than assurances.
practically speaking, gays are better off without marriage. why follow the example of traditional marriage? are we so obsessed with the perceived allure of eternal romance and love by symbolic rituals and a couple of gold rings? we know better than the straight people. lets not get too hung up on this. marriage is an industry if you have to be reminded. both of you can save your money by living together just like a married couple. there is nothing wrong with that.
Umm …..maybe because they want kids and start a family ???
Seriously if you are happy being single or having an open relationship ,Good for you .But don't say others are better in living and having the Same arraignment as you .
A lot of people want to start a family , and for that to happen...It is a MUST to have Legal protection !!!! -
You really have a hateful and distorted view of marriage.
In the US, for example, marriage gives you over 1,400 rights/privileges that you do not get otherwise. European countries have similar things.
Prior to gay marriage in the UK, gay couples were not given the same right to be placed in the same nursing home as hetero married couples. The same thing with immigration.
Contracts still won't get you anywhere near all the legal rights/privelegs you get under marriage law.
Over 1,400 rights?! Holy shit… I doubt marriages here in Mexico had as many of those.
Guess this is part of why some people don't see relevance on gay marriage. It depends on the amount of rights marriage has in their own countries.
As for myself, the only thing concerning me regarding gay marriage are inheritances, if I die I wouln't like to have my partner be stripped of our home or money by my own family. (Let's be fair, some families turn their backs on their gay members all their lives, but when they die they come sniffing out for the bucks)
Well...as long as gay couples give legalized marriage its right place, enjoying their rights and understanding their responsibilities, and never taking it for granted as some hetero couples do, I say….let's keep fighting for it.
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Seeing news like this makes me feel envious and happy at the same time. Happy because more chance for us to get acknowledged while envious because my country won't have this happening any time soon.
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we know how we lust over married men
Speak for yourself. ::) I've never understood this ring fetish thing any more than I understand what's supposed to be so appealing about straight men. Personally, these creepy obsessions some gay men have with all things hetero reek of self-loathing more than a sense of excitement or danger in my mind. I will never understand why some gay men are never happy with other gay men, or men who don't seem "straight" enough.
As far as marriage is concerned, I don't care enough about it to even argue for or against it. I couldn't care less, beyond the thought that it's nice for those who want it to have it. I don't understand why some are so obsessed with harping on how terrible and pointless it is. Like, no shit. So is life… What's your point?
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we know how we lust over married men
Speak for yourself. ::) I've never understood this ring fetish thing any more than I understand what's supposed to be so appealing about straight men. Personally, these creepy obsessions some gay men have with all things hetero reek of self-loathing more than a sense of excitement or danger in my mind. I will never understand why some gay men are never happy with other gay men, or men who don't seem "straight" enough.
As far as marriage is concerned, I don't care enough about it to even argue for or against it. I couldn't care less, beyond the thought that it's nice for those who want it to have it. I don't understand why some are so obsessed with harping on how terrible and pointless it is. Like, no shit. So is life… What's your point?
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So this thread seems to have morphed into a sort of discussion on the merits of marriage.
Personally, while I understand some of those who have no interest in marriage, I feel that it's an important institution not because of the inherent heteronormativity- but because of the deeper symbolism. It's a significant celebration of commitment between two people. It's powerful because of what it represents, as well as all the benefits that society has heaped on it as part of supporting that level of commitment.
Sure you could quietly stay together as a couple without ever getting married- but for others it matters because it helps them proudly have their commitment recognized by their community and by the legal institutions which can protect their commitment to each other.
Back on topic- living in a country with a strong Catholic presence that meddles in all aspects of life- it isn't likely to be legalized here anytime soon. But the recent level of acceptance in other countries is encouraging. I'm confident someday it will be possible.
