Taiwanese lawmakers are pushing to give same-sex married couples the equal right to adopt.
Taiwan legalized same-sex marriage three years ago. But same-sex couples still don’t enjoy the same rights as their heterosexual counterparts.
Right now, people in same-sex marriages can only adopt the biological child of their partner, in what’s known as a “stepchild adoption.” Meanwhile heterosexual couples are free to adopt a child they are unrelated to.
Single people, too, have more flexibility than same-sex couples when it comes to Taiwan’s adoption laws. That has caused some same-sex couples to consider getting a divorce, so that one of them can adopt a child for the couple to raise together.
On Thursday, a committee of lawmakers from all of Taiwan’s major political parties began discussing two proposals to make the law more equal. The proposals would give same-sex partners the same adoption rights as other couples.
A recent government poll found that 67% of respondents supported giving same-sex couples equal adoption rights.
The justice ministry says it supports the move. It says evidence shows that the current adoption system negatively impacts children’s development.
The proposals still have to pass the legislature before they become law.