Taiwan's Marriage Revolution: How One Man's 33-Year Fight Rewrote Love's Definition

30-Second Overview: In 1986, Chi Chia-wei was imprisoned for five months under martial law for coming out publicly. On May 17, 2019, the same man's constitutional petition made Taiwan Asia's first country with legal same-sex marriage. This isn't a story about law—it's a story about 33 years of refusing to give up. A story of how one person society labeled a "monster" eventually made that same society redefine love itself.

One Marriage Certificate, 33 Years in the Making

May 24, 2019. Xinyi District Household Registration Office, Taipei.

At 6 AM, hundreds of same-sex couples lined up outside. When the first same-sex marriage certificate was issued, the waiting crowd erupted in cheers and tears. Some embraced, some threw rainbow flags toward the sky, others quietly stared at the thin piece of paper in their hands—containing the two words they'd waited a lifetime to see: "spouse."

61-year-old Chi Chia-wei wasn't there. Not because he lacked a partner, but because for him, this victory came too late. From his first rejected application for same-sex marriage registration in 1986 to the law's passage in 2019, it took 33 years.

In those 33 years, he was imprisoned, socially ostracized, mocked by media, and cursed at by strangers while holding rainbow flags alone on street corners. But every time he was rejected, he applied again. Every time he lost in court, he appealed again.

📝 Curator's Note
Taiwan's marriage equality victory didn't happen because society suddenly became enlightened—it happened because someone refused to be forgotten by history.

The "Serious Harm Crime" Under Martial Law

1986: A Life-Changing Press Conference

February 28, 1986. Taiwan was still under martial law.

That day, Chi Chia-wei held an international press conference at McDonald's, publicly coming out as what may have been Taiwan's—possibly even Asia's—first openly gay person. He invited international media including Reuters to promote AIDS prevention awareness. He was 28 years old.

Five months later, he was arrested by the government for "serious harm crime."

"The person who arrested me said: 'Mr. Chi, you're too formidable, so we must make you disappear from the free world. We'll imprison you for five years,'" Chi later recalled. But this smart man who studied law used his criminology knowledge to successfully escape after five months.

After release, he made an even crazier decision: apply for same-sex marriage registration.

The First Application, The First Rejection

In 1986, Chi Chia-wei petitioned Taipei District Court to allow him to register marriage with his boyfriend.

Rejection was expected. But Chi wasn't seeking immediate success—he wanted to establish a legal precedent. To make something that didn't exist become real. To turn silence into necessary discussion.

💡 Did You Know?
Chi Chia-wei committed to fighting for LGBTQ+ rights from age 17. In 1975, his English teacher taught the word "homosexual." He researched at home and discovered that the World Psychiatric Association had removed homosexuality from mental illness classifications in 1974, confirming his orientation was normal.

One Man's War

Society's Cold Stares and Curses

From the late 1980s to early 1990s, LGBTQ+ individuals faced extreme stigmatization in Taiwan. Chi Chia-wei participated in social movements openly, frequently facing public harassment and ridicule.

He played Jesus, carrying a cross on streets promoting AIDS prevention; wore 300 condoms and dressed as Cleopatra distributing them at train stations; faced avoidance like a plague when fundraising for AIDS patients.

Veteran Taiwan journalist Yang Suo recalled: "Whenever I think of Chi Chia-wei, the image of him carrying fundraising boxes in the late 1980s appears... Most passersby avoided him from afar, viewing him as plague. Society and media saw him as a 'troublemaker.'"

But Chi never felt lonely. His strategy wasn't organizing groups or gathering crowds, but single-handedly challenging every aspect of the system.

A Thirty-Year Legal Marathon

From 1986 to 2019, Chi exhausted every legal avenue:

• Administrative appeals: Applications, petitions, appeals to all levels of government
• Judicial litigation: Civil lawsuits, administrative litigation, objections, appeals
• Legislative petitions: Repeated proposals to the Legislative Yuan
• Ultimate weapon: 2015 constitutional interpretation petition

Each defeat paved the way for the next victory. Chi wasn't waiting for society to change—he was creating conditions to change society.

Constitutional Interpretation 748: A Historic Constitutional Decision

May 24, 2017: A Turning Point in Asian Constitutional History

On May 24, 2017, Taiwan's Constitutional Court issued Interpretation No. 748, declaring that the Civil Code's failure to protect same-sex marriage violated the constitution. Taiwan became Asia's first country where the highest judicial authority recognized same-sex marriage rights as constitutionally protected.

✦ "The Civil Code's failure to allow same-sex couples to form permanent, intimate, and exclusive unions for the purpose of living together violates the constitutional guarantee of marriage freedom (Article 22) and equal protection (Article 7)."

The justices gave legislators two years to amend the law. If legislation wasn't completed by May 24, 2019, same-sex couples could register directly under civil law.

Three Foundational Principles

Marriage Freedom: A fundamental right protected by the constitution, shouldn't be restricted due to sexual orientation differences
Equal Protection: Differential treatment based on sexual orientation must pass strict scrutiny; current law constitutes unreasonable discrimination
Personality Rights: Same-sex couples' intimate relationships are closely related to personality development

This wasn't just a legal victory—it was a revolutionary transformation in human rights thinking.

The 2018 Referendum: Society's Tug-of-War

Forces of Reaction

After the constitutional ruling, opposition groups launched "Pro-Family Referendum" counterattacks. On November 24, 2018, same-sex marriage referendums became Taiwan's most intense civic mobilization.

The referendum results were devastating for the marriage equality movement:

• "Civil marriage should be limited to one man and one woman": 7.65 million yes votes
• "Protect same-sex couples with special law": 6.49 million yes votes
• Support civil code amendment referendum: Only 3.04 million yes votes

Tears on Referendum Night

On the evening of November 24, 2018, many in LGBTQ+ communities and supporters wept at vote-counting venues. Some described it as the pain of "being denied existence through referendum."

But this setback prompted important social reflection: Should fundamental human rights be decided by majority vote? The referendum process's abundant fear appeals and misinformation also made society value information quality's importance for democratic discussion.

⚠️ Controversial Viewpoint
Legal scholars generally believe human rights shouldn't be subject to majority rule, but opponents insist on democratic process legitimacy. This tension continues in Taiwanese society today.

May 17, 2019: Historic 66 Votes

International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

May 17, 2019—International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia—the Legislative Yuan passed the "Enforcement Act of Judicial Yuan Interpretation No. 748" in third reading.

66 votes in favor, 27 against.

When the bill passed, tens of thousands of supporters gathered outside the Legislative Yuan erupted in deafening cheers. On rain-soaked Ketagalan Boulevard, rainbow flags flew as people embraced in tears.

A Compromised but Historic Law

This law was a product of political compromise—neither civil code amendment nor completely independent special law, but an "enforcement act."

Legal content:

• ✅ Marriage rights: Same-sex couples can form marriage relationships
• ✅ Property protection: Applicable to civil code marital property systems
• ✅ Medical decisions: Spousal medical proxy rights
• ✅ Inheritance rights: Complete inheritance protection
• ⚠️ Adoption restrictions: Initially limited to adopting partner's biological children
• ⚠️ International restrictions: Limited to citizens from countries that also recognize same-sex marriage

Despite limitations, Taiwan became Asia's first country to legally protect same-sex marriage.

After Marriage Equality: Continuing Evolution of Equal Rights

Gradual Legal Improvements

January 2023: Ministry of Interior relaxes international same-sex marriage restrictions; Taiwanese citizens can marry foreigners from most countries not recognizing same-sex marriage

May 2023: Legislative Yuan passes amendments allowing same-sex couples to jointly adopt children without blood relations

Marriage Registration Statistics

Since opening on May 24, 2019:

• Total registrations: Over 10,000 same-sex couples have completed marriage registration
• Gender ratio: Female couples approximately twice that of male couples
• Geographic distribution: Not just concentrated in metropolitan areas; rural townships also have registration cases

📊 Data Source
Ministry of Interior Household Registration Office statistics, 2019-2022 cumulative data. Recent registration numbers have stabilized, reflecting gradual satisfaction of demand.

Taipei Pride: Asia's Rainbow Capital

From 1,000 to 100,000 People

2003: Taipei Pride founded, approximately 1,000 participants
2014: Over 65,000 people, becoming Asia's largest
Recent years: Consistently maintaining over 100,000 participants

Every last Saturday in October, rainbow flags occupy central Taipei. Participants include LGBTQ+ communities, straight allies, corporate groups, foreign diplomats, and international tourists, forming Asia's largest gender equality carnival.

Local Parades Blooming Everywhere

Beyond Taipei, Kaohsiung (since 2011), Taichung, Tainan, and Hualien also host pride parades. Local parade development shows gender issues have expanded from metropolitan topics to nationwide concerns.

Taipei Pride attracts numerous Southeast Asian and East Asian LGBTQ+ individuals who specifically travel to participate, making Taiwan viewed as "Asia's LGBTQ+-friendly capital."

International Significance: Asia's Lighthouse

Demonstration Effect

January 23, 2025: Thailand's same-sex marriage law takes effect, becoming Asia's second country with legal same-sex marriage. Thailand's legislative process extensively referenced Taiwan's experience.

Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Philippines and other countries' LGBTQ+ movements all draw strategies and courage from Taiwan's case. Taiwan proved that: Asian societies can completely establish progressive human rights systems while maintaining cultural traditions.

Soft Power Display

Same-sex marriage legislation strengthened Taiwan's international image as "Asia's beacon of human rights." Facing diplomatic challenges, gender equality became an important field for Taiwan to demonstrate its values.

International human rights organizations praise Taiwan as "a model of democracy and human rights in Asia," positively impacting Taiwan's international standing.

An Unfinished Revolution

Issues Still to Resolve

Transgender rights: Gender marker changes on ID cards still require surgical proof, raising human rights concerns

Anti-discrimination law: Taiwan lacks comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation; workplace and educational discrimination protections are insufficient

Rural LGBTQ+: LGBTQ+ communities outside metropolitan areas still face challenges in resources and acceptance

Elderly LGBTQ+ care: LGBTQ+-friendly long-term care service systems need development

Continuing Social Dialogue

After marriage equality legislation, Taiwan's discussion of gender issues has matured. Progressing from "can they marry" to "how to live together," advancing from legal equality to social inclusion.

Gender equality education, workplace diversity inclusion, friendly medical environments—these are Taiwan's next battlegrounds for gender equality.

Why This Matters

Taiwan's same-sex marriage legislation significance far exceeds marriage itself:

Litmus test for democratic quality: How a society treats minorities is an important indicator of democratic maturity

Redefining Asian values: Taiwan proved respecting tradition and protecting human rights can coexist

Victory of rule of law: From individual applications to constitutional interpretation, demonstrating legal systems' power to protect the vulnerable

Symbol of social progress: From martial law "crime" to democratic "right," reflecting entire society's civilizational advancement

✦ "This isn't just legal change—it's civilizational progress. Every couple who can now legally marry because of this is a witness to human dignity being protected."

From Chi Chia-wei's first application under 1986 martial law to 2019's historic Legislative Yuan vote; from one person's lonely war to tens of thousands in rainbow parades—Taiwan took 33 years.

This story tells us: Change isn't instantaneous, but as long as someone is willing to stand up, as long as rule-of-law systems can function, equality and dignity will eventually arrive.

Taiwan's experience also declares to the world: in this world full of divisions, love is the one thing that needs no categorization.

References

• BBC Chinese: Taiwan's 30 Years of LGBTQ+ Movement: Witnessing Same-Sex Marriage Law Passage
• Judicial Yuan: Constitutional Interpretation No. 748
• Central News Agency: Same-Sex Marriage Law First in Asia, Legislative Yuan Passes Third Reading
• Legislative Yuan: Enforcement Act of Judicial Yuan Interpretation No. 748
• Amnesty International: Taiwan becomes first in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage