Taiwan: Same-sex marriage bid revived a decade on

Gay marriage could soon be back on the cards in Taiwan, a decade after it was mooted, it's been suggested.

Previous attempts to enact a law legalising same-sex unions stalled in 2003. But equality rights campaigners will next month propose fresh amendments to the civil code, after a poll suggested more than half of the island's population would support the legislation, reports the China Post. That's apparently twice as many as 10 years ago. Commissioned by the Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights, the poll resulted in 53% of the 627 people questioned backing legalisation and 37% opposing it.

The Taipei Times quoted Academia Sinica research fellow Allen Li as saying the change in attitude could be attributed to better education, a weakening of religious beliefs and growing international influence. The Alliance says its survey is borne out by three others commissioned by the media and Institute of Sociology in the last year. Campaigners have long recognised Taiwan as one of Asia's most progressive countries. The movement to legalise same-sex marriage gained impetus in March 2012 when a gay couple applied to have their union recognized.

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