Tag Archives: Asia

Taiwan’s Haters Have The Marriage Sadz [VIDEO]

The Shanghaiist reports: On Wednesday afternoon, cheers rang out in the streets of Taipei as Taiwan’s top constitutional court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage, but not everyone present was so overjoyed. The ruling has left anti-gay groups on the island in shock, with one prominent activist likening the decision to the September 11th terror attacks of 2001. Shih Chun-yu, …

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BREAKING: Taiwanese High Court Rules In Favor Of Marriage Equality, Parliament Has Two Years To Comply

History! The South China Morning Post reports: Taiwan’s top court, the Council of Grand Justices, ruled in favour of gay marriage on Wednesday, the first landmark ruling in Asia on same-sex unions. The ruling by a panel of 14 grand justices in Taipei said the current law that bars same-sex marriage is a violation of the constitution – making the …

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JAPAN: Thousands March In Tokyo Pride Parade With Support From Politicians And 200 Companies [VIDEO]

The Japan Times reports: Thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people paraded through Tokyo’s Shibuya district on Sunday to express hope that Japan will further embrace gender equality and diversity. The LGBT parade was the finale to the annual Tokyo Rainbow Pride festival, and this year’s theme was “Change.” “I believed that nothing would change. But, little by little, …

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TAIWAN: Same-Sex Marriage Ruling Due May 24th

The China Post reports: Taiwan’s grand justices are poised to make a landmark ruling concerning the constitutionality of a bar on same-sex marriage May 24, its secretariat confirmed Monday. 14 justices heard the arguments from gay rights activist Chi Chia-wei [photo], his attorneys and other government officials last month, over whether the Civil Code’s description of marriage as between a …

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VIRAL VIDEO: CEO Of HSBC Taiwan Walks Lesbian Staffer Down The Aisle After Her Father Refuses

The Huffington Post reports: Taiwan is expected to become Asia’s first nation to recognize same-sex marriage by the end of the year, and businesses are definitely taking notice. On Valentine’s Day, HSBC Bank in Taiwan released a heartwarming YouTube video that told the real-life story of how the bank’s country CEO, John Li, walked one of his employees down the …

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MALAYSIA: Government Backs Ex-Gay Torture [VIDEO]

The Independent reports: Malaysia’s Government has endorsed gay conversion therapy after federal authorities claimed sexual orientation can be changed with extensive training. A video produced by the country’s family, social and development department explains how Muslims can change their approach to the LGBT community so that it does not promote hate against a minority, but the video has sparked anger …

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TAIWAN: Marriage Passes First Of Three Legislative Readings As Christian Protesters Scream [VIDEO]

The Nikkei Asian Review reports: The first draft of a bill on same-sex marriage won approval from the parliament’s judiciary committee on Monday, opening up the possibility of Taiwan becoming the first in the Asia-Pacific region to let gay couples wed. Following its successful first reading, the bill will undergo cross-party negotiations. But it has also drawn protests, and whether …

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Kyrgyzstan Voters Ban Same-Sex Marriage

Radio Free Europe reports: Kyrgyz election officials said voters have overwhelmingly backed amending the constitution to ban same-sex marriage and shift some presidential powers to the prime minister. The two questions were among a package of 26 proposed amendments that voters in the mostly Muslim former Soviet republic were being asked to approve with a simple “yes-or-no” vote on December …

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TAIWAN: Religious Groups Stage Massive Protests Against Pending Same-Sex Marriage Bill [VIDEO]

The Taipei Times reports: Opponents of same-sex marriage yesterday rallied tens of thousands of people along Ketagalan Boulevard, in a massive protest against proposed Civil Code amendments. Coalition for the Happiness of Our Next Generation, which organized the protest, said 80,000 people attended the demonstration, whose white-shirted crowd spilled out of Ketagalan Boulevard to encircle Jingfu Gate (景福門). Organizers said …

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Chinese Foreign Ministry Lodges Complaint Over Trump’s Unprecedented Call With Taiwan’s President

CNN reports: China’s foreign ministry said Saturday it has lodged a complaint with the United States over a controversial phone call between President-elect Donald Trump and Taiwan’s President that has overturned decades of diplomatic protocol. China views Taiwan as a renegade province and, since 1979, the US has acknowledged Beijing’s claim that Taiwan is part of China, with US-China relations …

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Trump Risks Enraging China By Calling Taiwan’s Leader In “Major Break” From 30 Years Of US Diplomacy

Business Insider reports: President-elect Trump spoke with the president of Taiwan by phone on Friday, the Financial Times reported, in a move likely to infuriate Beijing and hinder US-China relations. Trump’s spokesperson Hope Hicks confirmed the phone call in an email on Friday. “President-elect Trump spoke with President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan, who offered her congratulations,” according to a readout …

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TAIWAN: 10,000 Stage Pro-Gay Sit-In At Parliament As Lawmakers Hold Final Same-Sex Marriage Hearing

The China Post reports: More than 10,000 same-sex marriage advocates held a sit-in outside the Legislature on Monday, the day of the last public hearing before a legislative committee proceeds with the second reading of a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage. Supporters waved rainbow flags and held banners reading “no discount on human rights,” and “special treatment is discrimination,” …

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TAIWAN: Christian Protesters Storm Parliament’s Gates As Lawmakers Hear Same-Sex Marriage Bill [VIDEO]

The Hong Kong Free Press reports: Several thousand people on Thursday gathered outside the legislature in Taipei as legislators met inside the chambers to debate the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Taiwan. Amid changing attitudes, the country is poised to become the first in Asia to do so. Brought by the busload from all over the nation, the white-clad protesters …

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Taiwan Set To Become First Asian Nation To Legalize Same-Sex Marriage As Parliament Readies Bills

Credit largely goes to Buddhism. ABC News reports: Taiwan could become the first Asian country to pass same-sex marriage laws. Taiwanese parliamentarians have begun work on three bills in support of marriage equality, one of which is already listed for review and could be passed within months. President Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan’s first female head of state, said as recently as …

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TAIWAN: 80,000 March At Taipei’s Pride Parade As Justice Minister Calls For Same-Sex Marriage [VIDEO]

The Telegraph reports: It might have rained on their parade, but Taiwan’s wet weather did not dampen the spirits of Asia’s largest gay pride march, as over 80,000 took to the streets of the capital, Taipei, on Saturday to call for equal rights and same-sex marriage. Rainbow umbrellas went up, matching a sea of multi-coloured flags and hats, in a …

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PHILIPPINES: President Compares Himself To Hitler, Says He’d Be Happy To Slaughter Millions Of Drug Users

Reuters reports: Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte appeared to liken himself to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler on Friday and said he would “be happy” to exterminate three million drug users and peddlers in the country. His comments triggered shock and anger among Jewish groups in the United States, which could add to pressure on the U.S. government to take a tougher …

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North Korea Conducts Largest Nuclear Test To Date

The Guardian reports: North Korea has confirmed it has conducted its most powerful nuclear test to date, marking the 68th anniversary of its founding with a reminder to the world that it may be edging closer to developing a warhead capable of striking the US mainland. Friday morning’s test, which triggered a magnitude 5.3 earthquake, drew immediate condemnation from North …

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INDONESIA: Islamic Activists Urge Constitutional Court To Criminalize Homosexuality And Fornication

J. Lester Feder reports at Buzzfeed: A group of academics and activists urged the Constitutional Court of Indonesia to criminalize fornication and homosexuality on Tuesday in the latest hearing of a lawsuit that began earlier this year. The suit, which has been brought by 12 academics and activists, has already had several hearings, but captured international attention earlier this month …

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SINGAPORE: Government Bans Foreign Corporations From Sponsoring Public Events Like LGBT Pride

From the Straits Times: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Tuesday (June 7) it will “take steps to make it clear that foreign entities should not fund, support or influence” events held at Speakers’ Corner, like the annual Pink Dot event last Saturday. This year’s event – the eighth such – attracted 18 sponsors, twice as many as …

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Obama Lifts US Arms Embargo On Vietnam

CNN reports: President Barack Obama announced Monday that the United States is fully lifting a decades-long ban on the sale of military equipment to Vietnam. In a joint news conference in Hanoi with Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang, Obama said that the removal of the ban on lethal weapons was part of a deeper defense cooperation with the country and …

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