Two lesbian nurses announced their wedding plans to mark International Nurses Day on Thursday. They will hold a public wedding in Taipei County in mid-June, the Liberty Times reported yesterday.
The two nurses, Hsiao Jung (小容), 28, and Hsiao Tieh (小蝶), 25, are currently classmates at a nursing college in Taipei City. They made the announcement during an exclusive interview with the Liberty Times at a restaurant in Banciao City Thursday.
The two women have been dating for about two years. Although Hsiao Tieh was engaged when they first met, she finally realized that she was much happier when she was with Hsiao Jung. Her fiance could not believe this, almost broke down, and is still unable to accept the fact.
PHOTO: LIN CHING-CHI, TAIPEI TIMES
"We know that this [same-sex] marriage is legally unrecognized," Hsiao Jung said. "However, nothing can stop us from being together."
"Most news reports on gays and lesbians are discriminatory. So we want to hold a wedding in public to show that homosexuals are not so different from heterosexuals," said Hsiao Jung, who hopes to set a good example for the gay community.
The couple said that in response to the news, the nursing community has "respected and blessed" their decision, while stressing that a person's sexual orientation has nothing to do with professional performance.
"Many social values are changing these days. This is not about right or wrong. We certainly respect their personal choice," said Yin Tso-chien (尹祚芊), the chairwoman of the National Union of Nurses' Associations, ROC (護理師護士公會全國聯合會).
To celebrate their union, their homeroom teacher from the nursing course will be the witness at the ceremony.
Same-sex marriage is not legally recognized in Taiwan. Alternative sexual orientation and marriage have been taboo subjects here. In 1996, the issue was highlighted by a wedding between Taiwanese writer Hsi You-sheng (許佑生) and his American partner Gary Harriman. It was the first public gay marriage in Taiwan, although they were unable to officially register their marriage with the government.
According to Taiwan Tongzhi Hotline ("tongzhi" means "homosexual" in Chinese), many Taiwanese homosexuals are forced to marry heterosexuals due to family and social pressures.
The hotline warned that such "fake" marriages "often result in disaster" because they "exist in name only."
In 2001, the Ministry of Justice produced a draft basic human rights law that would protect gay rights -- such as automatic inheritance rights among other benefits. Article 6 stipulates that gays and lesbians shall be allowed to have families and to adopt children. The Cabinet has delayed its proposal to the legislature.
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