Homosexuals will now be officially listed and protected under the Domestic Violence Prevention Law (
Two lawmakers cited the movie Brokeback Mountain in arguing for the change.
The existing law defines "domestic" as "husband and wife relations, spouses and ex-spouses, parents, family members, or blood and non-blood relatives."
Legislators from the Judiciary Committee questioned that definition, asking whether homosexuals were included in those categories and protected by the law.
Minister of the Interior Lee Yi-yang (
According to the Civic Law (
Taiwan Solidarity Union Legislator Kuo Lin-Yung (郭林勇) said that homosexuals had long been neglected in a society where heterosexual marriages were dominant.
Although gay marriages are not yet legal in the country, more attention should be paid to gay rights, Kuo said.
"They [homosexuals] have been derided, persecuted and constrained in the past, but now they have begun to speak out, allowing their problems to surface and be known," he said. "Therefore, they must now be equally protected by the law."
The amended law should explain clearly that homosexual couples are included under the category of "family members," so that social workers, police and other authorities would understand, Kuo added.
He said gay relationships were often more intense and gay individuals may easily become victims of domestic violence. Without protection from the law, many end up committing suicide because they have no way to seek help, he added.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Huang Sue-ying (黃淑英) added that the concept of "family" traditionally referred to heterosexual couples and that the decision made at the review session was a breakthrough for gay rights.
Huang said the new amendments should add that members of families could be composed of any sex.
Both Kuo and Huang said the award-winning movie Brokeback Mountain had positively influenced the public to be more aware of homosexual issues and problems.
The review session also made progress toward canceling a handling fee for protection orders. A NT$1000 (US$31) handling fee has posed a problem for many victims of abuse, who could not afford to apply for protection.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
UNILATERAL MOVES: Officials have raised concerns that Beijing could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan next year The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) yesterday said that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open next year that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns. Xiamen Xiangan International Airport is only about 3km at its closest point from the islands in Kinmen County — the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War — and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side. In a written statement sent to Reuters, the CAA said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced
The age requirement for commercial pilots and airline transport pilots is to be lowered by two years, to 18 and 21 years respectively, to expand the pool of pilots in accordance with international standards, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications announced today. The changes are part of amendments to articles 93, 119 and 121 of the Regulations Governing Licenses and Ratings for Airmen (航空人員檢定給證管理規則). The amendments take into account age requirements for aviation personnel certification in the Convention on International Civil Aviation and EU’s aviation safety regulations, as well as the practical needs of managing aviation personnel licensing, the ministry said. The ministry
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