Historic wedding in Taiwan to change gay couples' future?

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Published time: August 11, 2012 15:01
Edited time: August 11, 2012 19:01

The words that many women can't wait to declare, “I do”, finally came to be announced publicly as a pair of women tied the knot in Taiwan's first same-sex Buddhist wedding.

­Dressed in white bridal gowns, Fish Huang and You Ya-ting, both aged 30, exchanged prayer beads instead of traditional rings in front of a Buddha statue and in a monastery in Taoyuan, in northern Taiwan.

Up to 300 Buddhists reportedly chanted sutras to seek blessings for the couple beaming with happiness.

A female Buddhist master and an advocate for social justice, Shih Chao-hui, described the wedding as historic.

It's hoped that the unprecedented wedding could finally become a turning point for local politicians, making Taiwan the first hub in Asia to legalize gay marriage.

"We are witnessing history. The two women are willing to stand out and fight for their fate… to overcome social discrimination," Shih told Agence France Press.

The couple's parents were not present at the ceremony, disapproving of their children's act.

"We hope with the master's support, the wedding will change many people's perspective even though it is not legally binding," said the social worker. "We hope the government can legalize same-sex marriage soon."

Taiwan is acknowledged to be one of the most culturally-liberal societies in East Asia. Back in 2003, the cabinet drafted a bill to legalize same-sex marriages and to allow same-sex couples to adopt children. However, it failed to receive enough support to make it into a law.