Taiwan will become the first place in Asia to legalize same-sex unions.
The highest court ruled laws that prevent same-sex couples from marrying are unconstitutional and a direct violation to a person’s right to equality.
As the BBC reports, parliament has two years to revise current laws or pass new ones.
A press release says the court found that “disallowing two persons of the same sex to marry, for the sake of safeguarding basic ethical orders” constituted a “different treatment” with “no rational basis.”
In conclusion, “such different treatment is incompatible with the spirit and meaning of the right to equality” that Taiwan’s constitution protects.
Twitter erupted at the news:
https://twitter.com/Jeza_Belle/status/867416772982562816
#Taiwan – top judges ruled in favor of gay marriage, paving the way for it to become the first in Asia to legalize same-sex unions! 🇹🇼🏳️🌈 https://t.co/ff1zXWu90W
— Leann Levine, DTM (@LeannCLevine) May 24, 2017
Tfw Taiwan legalizes gay marriage while our Christian government in German still can't get the sticks out their asses 🤔🤔🤔
— MY BODY IS AN ORPHANAGE WE TAKE EVERYONE IN (@pridemoth_) May 24, 2017
Okay but how do I work today? Every five minutes my brain's like "MARRIAGE EQUALITY IN TAIWAN!!!" and I'm like pic.twitter.com/slwWwP9RXC
— 💛✨smile gay ありがとう (@aijou_sosogu) May 24, 2017
Same sex marriage is now legal in Taiwan?
YASSSS! pic.twitter.com/fG103jG5Wi
— The Mean Gay (@imthemeangay) May 24, 2017
Warm congratulations to all // Taiwan’s top court rules in favour of gay marriage in landmark case https://t.co/1kXV8uOVmM
— Fiona de Londras (@fdelond) May 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/Mr_AlVil/status/867413374992347136
'I'm leaping with joy like a bird', says Taiwan's gay rights champion as court rules in favour of marriage equalityhttps://t.co/r2SyKKeOUv
— Stephen Wu (@ShahmatWu) May 24, 2017
Congrats Taiwan for being the first Asian country to recognize gay marriage!!!!!
— Mugimoo 🕷️ (@Mugimoo123) May 24, 2017
so happy to see that Taiwan has legalized gay marriage, our world is growing!❤️💛💚💙💜 #loveislove
— mars (@marissuhh_xoxo) May 24, 2017
Congrats to our brothers and sisters in #Taiwan on today's momentous ruling! #MarriageEquality @TaiwanTourismUK @TaiwanTourism #gay #lgbt pic.twitter.com/W5wfpIJDYD
— OutThere | Experiential Journeys (@OutThereMag) May 24, 2017
Taiwan u beautiful defector island nation thank u for paving the way for LGBT in Asia im sending u a million gay kisses
— sen sennie sen (@nixiushi) May 24, 2017
Taiwan to allow gay marriage in first for Asia. So proud of my country! Life gets better together! Be part of something great🏳️🌈#LGBTA #HPE pic.twitter.com/u0EyvVolj3
— xenia (@xeniachuu) May 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/explodinghye/status/867408607024828418