Tag Archives: Asia

Seoul’s gay pride parade was disrupted multiple times today when hundreds of Christians laid in the path of the floats and refused to move. According to information provided to Gay Star News by a Ph.D student in South Korea, conservative Christians held mass prayer services during the 7 June event. “To put it simply today was a kind of battle …

“There is no difference to importance of love from sexual orientation. There should not be any discrimination because who you love. I am going to raise my voice. If my raised voice could contribute to the pride of LGBT people, there is no greater joy.” – Akie Abe, the First Lady of Japan, speaking today at a gay pride event …

The Indian Supreme Court today refused to reconsider its December decision to reinstate the criminalization of homosexuality. Many had expected the Court to do so after major Indian and international leaders denounced the ruling. Judges dismissed petitions from the government and rights activists who say the order was wrong. The Supreme Court judgement last month overturned a landmark 2009 Delhi …

Waving signs and banners that were clearly lifted from France’s vile Manif Pour Tous, tens of thousands marched in Taiwan’s capital in protest of a proposed bill to legalize same-sex marriage. From Focus Taiwan: The demonstrators, many of whom were parents and children, crowded Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office, raising pink placards that read “Made by Daddy …

As of yesterday, it’s no longer illegal to stage gay weddings or commitment ceremonies in Vietnam. The south-eastern Asian country has officially allowed same-sex couples to organize weddings and have the right to live together. While the unions won’t be legally recognized, gay rights campaigners believe it is a large step on the path to equal marriage. The Government has …

Gay Star News reports on Hong Kong’s fifth pride parade: Today’s Hong Kong Pride showed the LGBT community there are more visible than ever before. The head of Hong Kong’s Equal Opportunity Commission Dr York Chow addressed the crowd, as did member of the legislative council Cyd Ho. This year, the fifth Hong Kong Pride, saw more corporate sponsorship with …

Yesterday hundreds rallied in Vietnam’s capital city of Hanoi in support of next week’s legislative debate on same-sex marriage. The event was part of the “Toi Dong Y” festival, which translates as “I do,” or “I agree”, organized by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) groups across the country. One participant, 18-year-old Truong Duc Anh, said same-sex marriage is an …

Tens of thousands marched in Taipei’s gay pride parade today in support of a marriage equality bill under consideration by the Taiwanese legislature. Via Reuters: Taiwan’s legislature on Friday began a review of a gay marriage bill, which has the support of 53 percent of the public, according to a recent opinion poll, though acceptance of a gay family member …

Thailand’s federal government says it is ready to put forth a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. But not in name. “We will put forward the same-sex civil-union bill in Parliament,” Naras Savestanan, director general of the Rights and Liberties Protection Department, announced yesterday with the chair of the House committee on justice and human rights, Viroon Phuensaen, by his side. …

An interesting development: Vietnam should legalize same-sex marriage immediately, the deputy minister of health was quoted as saying today by local media. As human beings, homosexuals have the same rights as everyone else to live, eat, love and be loved,” Nguyen Viet Tien told a government meeting discussing the upcoming review of the Marriage and Family Law, newspaper Thanh Nien …

Same-sex marriage remains banned in Vietnam, but the government this week announced that couples who hold ceremonies will no longer be fined. Under the draft decree that would have taken effect this July, homosexual couples that get married would have been fined VND200,000-1 million (US$9.55), twice the current fine introduced in 2000. Gay rights activists lambasted the proposal, dismissing it …

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who five years ago publicly disowned his daughter when she married a woman, has issued a denouncement of anti-gay discrimination. Gay rights is not a major issue in Cambodia, and Hun Sen seemed to have been inspired by discussions of the subject on International Human Rights Day on Monday, including on local television. Cambodian society, …