Taiwan, beacon of Democracy in Asia and the world
Is a self-governing country without a seat in the UN
China views it as a renegade province
And threatens to annihilate it by force
Taiwan’s president Tsai Ing-wen responds with
More human rights,
More democracy
and More freedom
On February 20th 2019
Taiwan is to legislate same-sex marriage law
Here is Taiwan Premier Su’s message to its people:
Hello, My fellow Taiwanese folks
As we all know, human society evolves constantly. For the longest time, there were prejudice towards the poor, women, blacks. They couldn’t even vote. Now all is respected, all is equal.
We used to think sexual attraction happen to opposite sex. We didn’t understand homosexuals. Ignorance leads to fear. Fear leads to oppression. Even I was once ignorant as a kid.
Now it is medically proven. Homosexuals are born this way. It’s not a disease. It’s not contagious. You can’t nurture straights to gays, nor gays to straights.
Executive Yuan as the highest executive institution in Taiwan, we must act according to the law, we must respect the referendum results, we also must act according to the Grand Justice Interpretation of constitution court. Therefore, we will not amend the civil code law. The marriage between a man and a woman is intact as is.
As stated by the supreme court justice Interpretation No. 748, the union of same sex couples requires the equal protection of the freedom of marriage. Therefore, the Executive Yuan will enact on legislation of such law. Since many still debate on the naming of the law. We feel it is best not to muddle on the wording. Instead, the Executive Yuan will name it ‘J Y Interpretation No. 748 Enact Law’ and send it to legislature for review.
I hope all will understand that, according to the Grand Justice Interpretation, if the Executive doesn’t enact, if the Legislature doesn’t pass before May 24th, same-sex marriage will still be allowed to register under current Civil Code. Therefore, I ask the legislature to legislate soon.
I will also say this to my fellow Taiwanese: No matter you’re gay or straight, we are all on the same side, living together on this land, we are all here, between heaven and earth. I sincerely look forward to all, to tolerate the different, to kindly treat one another, and make Taiwan a country that respects and be kind to one another.
Thank you, and, good night.
