Right now, the world is watching Taiwan for a very significant reason. The Taiwanese government is currently working on three bills that support marriage equality, and one of the bills that could legalize same-sex weddings is set for review to possibly be approved within months.
There are several factors credited towards this progressive shift. Taiwan just elected its first ever female head of state, Tsai Ing-wen, who openly supports gay marriage. There is also a growing support of same-sex marriage among younger Taiwanese people, with 80% of those between the ages of 20 and 29 in full support of it, according to studies by local university. ABC also cites Taiwan's large Buddhist and traditional Chinese religious practices as a possible factor for support of such a bill. Much of the country follows more traditional Chinese religions that have no real ties to opposition of different types of sexualities.
LGBT rights in Asia are notably limited in many countries. As of May 2016, 23 countries in Asia had placed a ban on same-sex sexual acts, and even more severe, 5 of those countries have anti-LGBT legislation set in place that could lead to the death penalty.
The Democratic Progressive Party's Yu Mei-nu sponsors the same-sex marriage bill, and told the Associated Press:
"If Taiwan can get this passed...it will give other Asian countries a model."
Fingers crossed for the bill to pass in the Taiwanese Parliament in the coming months!
