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Taiwan has become the first Asian country to recognize same-sex marriage after a ruling delivered by a court on Wednesday.
In its decision, the constitutional court ruled the current civil code, which prevents legal same-sex marriages, was in violation of two points in the constitution.
According to the ruling, “the need, capability, willingness, and longing, in both physical and psychological senses, for creating such permanent unions of intimate and exclusive nature are equally essential to homosexuals and heterosexuals, given the importance of the freedom of marriage to the sound development of personality and safeguarding of human dignity”.
The court said officials who want to prevent the historic decision’s long-term effects must amend existing laws—or enact new ones—within two years. Otherwise, same-sex couples may have their marriages legally recognized.
Associated Press reports that “Most major opposition parties support the legalization of same-sex marriage, and the majority of the public does too, as well as Taiwan’s female leader, President Tsai Ing-wen”