A “same-sex union” bill drafted by HTC chairwoman Cher Wang’s (王雪紅) Faith, Hope and Love Foundation and sponsored by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lin Tai-hua (林岱樺) yesterday advanced to a second reading.
The DPP caucus at a plenary session successfully moved to advance the bill, titled the “draft enforcement act for Judicial Yuan Interpretation No. 748 and Referendum No. 12,” to a second reading.
The New Power Party caucus filed a separate motion to return the bill to the Procedural Committee, which was struck down.
Photo: Huang Yao-cheng, Taipei Times
The result was in line with a decision reached during cross-caucus negotiations on Thursday that all three bills on the issue be reviewed side-by-side during another round of negotiations.
DPP caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) said that the next round of negotiations could begin next week, as the deadline set by the interpretation nears.
It is to be reviewed alongside the Executive Yuan’s “enforcement act of Judicial Yuan Interpretation No. 748” and another sponsored by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆) on behalf of the conservative Happiness of the Next Generation Alliance, both of which proceeded to a second reading in March.
Referendum No. 12, which was voted on alongside the nine-in-one elections on Nov. 24 last year, asked voters: “Do you agree that the right to persons of the same sex to create a permanent union should be guaranteed by an institution other than marriage as defined by the Civil Code?”
It passed after garnering 6.4 million “yes” votes to 4.07 million “no” votes.
Lin’s version of the bill uses the term “same-sex union,” while the Cabinet’s version uses “same-sex marriage.”
The latter is in line with the Council of Grand Justices’ interpretation passed on May 24, 2017, which declared the lack of language guaranteeing the right of same-sex couples to get married in the Civil Code unconstitutional, and required that a law or amendment be introduced to legalize same-sex marriage within two years.
Although supporters of Lin’s version have said that it is a compromise between the other two versions, DPP legislators Yu Mei-nu (尤美女) and Tuan Yi-kang (段宜康) said otherwise.
Yu on Thursday called Lin’s version “stark discrimination” against same-sex couples.
The version contains a “fake marriage” clause that would authorize prosecutors or social welfare agencies to request that a court intervene and abrogate a same-sex union if relatives within three degrees of consanguinity of either member of the union believe that it was not for the purpose of two people “living life together,” Yu said on Facebook, questioning what right people have to scrutinize the sincerity of others’ marriage.
The version also has a clause that says: “As one’s conscience and freedom should not be affected by the enactment of this act, conveying or inculcating beliefs against the relationship described in Article 2 [same-sex union] does not constitute discrimination,” she said.
Tuan said that he despises all lawmakers who sponsored or cosponsored the bill, regardless of their party affiliation.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old