Taiwan will be the first place in Asia to legalize same-sex unions, reports the BBC, after a panel of judges in Taipei ruled(PDF) that equality rights guaranteed it. Legislators have two years to pass a bill that provides "equal protection of the freedom of marriage for two persons of the same sex" before the court extends current law to apply to same-sex unions. Two of the fourteen justices filed dissenting opinions, with a third recusing themselves.
BBC analyst Cindy Sui:
But it's still unclear how far parliament will go.
The LGBT community hopes legislators will simply amend the existing marriage laws to include same-sex couples, which would grant them the same rights enjoyed by opposite-sex couples, including in cases of adoption, parenting and inheritance - and making decisions for each other in medical emergencies.
However, they fear parliament won't do that and will instead pass a new law that recognises same-sex marriages but gives them only some rights, not equal treatment in all matters.
Photo: Reuters. Read the rest
In a weirdly hostile and creepy press conference in Alabama this week, the state's Supreme Court Chief Justice complained about a variety of foes including “a tranvestite,” plus "atheists, homosexuals and transgender individuals."
He says these foes brought forward a politically motivated complaint about his administrative order to probate judges not to issue same-sex marriage licenses. Chief Justice Roy Moore also blamed the Southern Poverty Law Center for getting in the way of his gay marriage squashing orders. Read the rest
Survivor guitarist and “Eye of the Tiger” co-writer Frankie Sullivan says nobody in their camp granted permission for their 1982 hit song to be featured at a rally for Kim Davis without their permission.
Gay-hatin' Lord-fearin' American Martyr Kim Davis and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee celebrate Davis' release from jail with an overused '80s sports anthem. Read the rest
A court has issued a harsh (if eminently Republican) response to the problem posed by Kim Davis.
Helpful definition for anyone confused by the Supreme Court ruling that legalized gay marriage in America.
They're not rainbows. They're “abomination colors.”
That recent Supreme Court gay marriage decision done got someone's britches all up in a bunch.
The General Lee loses its Confederate Flag, and the truth about Bo and Luke comes out. Read the rest
We salute you, happy gay people of Red Pegasus Comics in Dallas, Texas. Read the rest
Kind of a crazy day, right? Read the rest
Because #lovewins. Read the rest
