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By Ann Wang and Yimou Lee
TAIPEI (Reuters) – On a sunny day in a park in Taipei, photographer Austin Haung advises a same-sex couple on how to pose for a pre-wedding photo shoot. For him, Taiwan's reputation as a beacon of liberalism in the region means flourishing activity.
"Our clients are mainly same-sex couples from overseas, including Hong Kong, Singapore, China and Malaysia," said Haung, 32, who hopes to turn his job into a full-time business aimed at homosexual newlyweds from the other region.
"They said that Taiwan was a reassuring place to do the filming … If they do it in their own country, they fear being identified or frowning people," he said. declared. (To see the accompanying package, click https://reut.rs/2Qg9k4Q)
In its first decision in Asia, the Constitutional Court of Taiwan declared last May that same-sex couples had the right to marry legally, and set a two-year deadline for legalization.
On Saturday, Taiwan will hold a series of public votes on whether its civil law should now recognize same-sex marriage, after its electoral authority has approved conflicting referendum petitions from defense and rights groups.
The issue has divided Taiwan, at the tables of the family dining room, online and in the street, with large-scale gatherings.
Haung, who is gay, is considering voting for gay marriage, but her mother Zeng, who is in her early 60s, is fiercely opposed to it. In fact, she has brought together relatives and friends to support the opposite referendum that defines marriage as a man and a woman.
"There is no need to protect same-sex marriage, and if so, there will be more homosexuals in society," she said. "The younger generations have their own ideas, but I do not agree, no matter what they say."
Human rights activists say the Conservative referendum is "discriminatory" in that it goes against a 2017 court ruling that laws in effect violate the law freedom of marriage and equality.
The heated debate over the legalization of same-sex marriage is a challenge for President Tsai Ing-wen, who, according to human rights advocates, has given up her promise of marriage equality. before the 2016 elections.
Same-sex marriage votes coincide with Taiwan's mayor and magistrate elections, a confidence test for the Tsai government grappling with internal reforms, and growing pressure from China to consider the island. like his.
"I hope that Tsai Ing-wen will be able to assume the responsibility of the leadership." The issue has been delayed for a long time due to the lack of political guidance from the ruling party, said Jennifer Lu, coordinator of the Marriage Equality Coalition. Taiwan.
"The government should protect the rights of marriage for all Taiwanese."
The Taiwanese capital, Taipei, is hosting an annual Gay Pride Parade that highlights the vitality of its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. The week-long celebration in October, the largest in the region, brought in more than $ 3.3 million to the economy, according to the Taipei Times.
LGBT-related businesses thrive in Taiwan where the liberal attitude has earned it the reputation of "gay capital" of Asia.
The Gin Gin bookstore, which was raided by the police in 2003, seized 500 magazines.
"We have been fighting for a long time and loyal customers now come from all over the world at least once a year in our store," said Yang Pingjing, one of the bookstore's owners.
Located in an alleyway in the heart of Taipei with rainbow flags leading to the stairs, the owner of a men 's bathing establishment dating back several decades said that his business is now often filled and that it' s only a matter of time. He receives many customers from overseas.
"I do not worry too much about my business," said Yu Nanxian, owner of the Hans Men sauna, open 24 hours a day. "Once homosexual, you will still be homosexual, regardless of the outcome of the referendum."
(Report by Ann Wang and Yimou Lee, edited by Michael Perry)
