&lt;h1&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;P.14 Same Sex Marriage &lt;strong&gt;in&lt;/strong&gt; Asia&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h1&gt;
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&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cms.pulse-clinic.com/Files/Junior/Magazine/H3%20Article%20on%20website/Screenshot%202024-03-11%20161911.png&quot; width=&quot;564&quot; height=&quot;700&quot; style=&quot;display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;&quot; /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Since the first same-sex marriages took place in the Netherlands in 2001, social and political transformation is taking place in a number of Asian countries and territories. This is sending a powerful message of tolerance, inclusivity, and the power of activism, inspiring positive change throughout the Asia.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Taiwan&lt;/strong&gt;, the first and only country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;On the 24&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; &amp;nbsp;May 2019, Taiwan made history as the first Asian country to legalize gay marriage. This feat was achieved through a combination of ground roots activism and corporate collaboration coupled with the decision by the Constitutional Court that same-sex couples should have the right to marry. Taiwan has a powerful statement echoing in the Asia of what&amp;rsquo;s possible.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Thailand&lt;/strong&gt; could be next?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Legislation endorsing same-sex marriage, supported by both the government and major opposition parties, was introduced in November 2023 and is anticipated to be approved in 2024. The proposed amendment to the Civil and Commercial Code aims to substitute terms such as &quot;men and women&quot; and &quot;husband and wife&quot; with &quot;individuals&quot; and &quot;spouses.&quot; Additionally, the draft law seeks to permit same-sex couples to adopt children jointly. If passed, Thailand would be the second Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Nepal&lt;/strong&gt;, is on the way to same-sex marriage recognition.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;While the Supreme Court of Nepal has ruled in favor of same-sex marriage since 2008, the government is yet to enact laws. The &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/media_2023/12/OPMCM%20Letter%20to%20Manisha%20Dhakal.pdf&quot;&gt;prime minister&amp;rsquo;s office has indicated&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;to LGBTQ+ rights activists that they are taking the supreme court&amp;rsquo;s order seriously, and the Ministry of Home Affairs&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/media_2023/12/MOHA%20Dordi%20Dispatch%20.pdf&quot;&gt;gave its blessing&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;to the local administration offices to begin registering same-sex marriages.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;India&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Although, same-sex marriage is not yet legal, in 2018, the Supreme Court of India decriminalized homosexuality which was quite a good start and a blueprint for more legal developments in the future. Some states (such as Kerala and Goa) have already taken steps toward recognizing same-sex unions.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Japan&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;While Japan does not yet recognize same-sex marriage at the national level, there have been significant developments at the local level. Several cities (such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka) now allow same-sex partnerships. These partnerships grant certain rights related to housing, medical decisions, and inheritance.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;South Korea&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;South Korea has seen a shift in public opinion and increased visibility of LGBTQ+ issues. While same-sex marriage is not legally recognized, there is gradually some advancement, for instance, in 2021, a military court ruled that consensual same-sex relations are not punishable, signaling progress.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Attitudes are changing, albeit slowly. Watch people complain and cry at breakfast. And speak your heart out. Advocacy, visibility, and education play crucial roles in advancing LGBTQ+ rights and initiating a broader conversation, towards the direction that equal marriage involves both rights and responsibilities. It encompasses the ability to participate in social and financial institutions on par with everyone else.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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H3 - Same Sex Marriage in Asia