As the Taiwanese government moves closer to enacting marriage equality, same-sex parents there (and even their parents) are sharing their stories. Watch their (subtitled) videos.
Taiwan could become the first country in Asia to legalize marriage for same-sex couples. Two draft bills passed the judiciary committee last month and now go back to party caucuses for discussion. Final passage could come as early as April or May, predicts one legislator (who notes it also provides for equal adoption rights)–but it remains unclear whether supporters can build enough support for final passage, or whether a civil-union-like alternative could gain traction.
Jia-Min, a urologist, and Chiao-Ting, a lawyer currently staying home with their infant son, made this video for the OUT People series from the Taiwanese gay and lesbian online video platform GagaOOLala. They talk about deciding how to start their family, the challenges of sharing household chores and baby care, the stress parenting can put on a relationship, and the implications of the lack of legal parentage for Jia-Min.
Jia-Min also offers this advice for other same-sex parents, “Don’t doubt the family you’ve built. When you are confident, your children will be, too.”
Chiao-Ting adds, “Everyone has the right to love and start a family.”
In another video for GagaOOLala, gay dad Jay Lin’s parents talk about their son, their twin infant grandchildren, and why they want same-sex couples to be able to marry. Lin himself wrote more about his journey to parenthood earlier this week.
(H/t Gay Star News.)