The Taipei City Government is inviting gay couples to participate in its mass wedding ceremony in October. This is the first time that the city has invited gay couples to the event. Same-sex couples however do not have the right to register their marriages in Taiwan.
The US Supreme Court guaranteed the right to same-sex marriages in June. Taipei’s Department of Civil Affairs Commissioner Lan Shih-tsung said that having a partner and marriage is a natural right. He said that the city wants to show its support for diverse families through this invitation.
Lan said he hopes this will enable more people to understand the diversity of different families, same-sex partnerships and the meaning of love. He described this as an effort towards equal rights for same-sex couples.
Taipei will hold a mass wedding on October 24. The registration period is from August 24 to 28. Taipei has been holding mass weddings since 1973, with the Taipei mayor presiding over these ceremonies.