Taiwan’s LGBT community is demanding the right to participate in group weddings.
It’s been more than four decades since the Taipei City Government began holding group weddings for its residents in 1973. But only heterosexual couples have been eligible to register.
On Monday, a lesbian couple went to a district office to register to attend a group wedding. While their application was not rejected, the couple was told that the final decision would be made by the Department of Civil Affairs.
An activist with the Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights, Chien Chih-chieh, called on Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je to offer equal rights to LGBT couples.
“As the leader of Taipei, the happiness and welfare of each and every citizen is the mayor’s responsibility," said Chien. "We hope the mayor can hear the voices of people of different genders and sexual orientations, and open up group weddings to them. [We hope] the mayor can preside over the weddings and give gay people his blessings.”