At the end of last year, Taiwanese citizens went to the polls to vote on five referendums of great historical significance to the global fight for LGBT equality.

Three of these referendums were worded in opposition to LGBT equality, while two were worded in support.

The wording of the five referendums was as follows:

Case 10: National Referendum opposing marriage equality
“Do you agree that Civil Code regulations should restrict marriage to being between a man and a woman?”

Case 11: National Referendum opposing LGBT sex education
“Do you agree that the Ministry of Education and individual schools should not teach homosexual-related education, as detailed under the Enforcement Rules for the Gender Equity Education Act, in elementary and high schools?”

Case 12: National Referendum recognizing same-sex unions outside of civil marriage
“Do you agree to types of unions, other than those stated in the marriage regulations in the Civil Code, to protect the rights of same-sex couples who live together permanently?” 

Case 14: National Referendum supporting marriage equality
“Do you agree that the Civil Code marriage regulations should be used to guarantee the rights of same-sex couples to get married?” 

Case 15: National Referendum supporting LGBT sex education
“Do you agree that gender equity education as defined in the Gender Equity Education Act should be taught at all stages of the national curriculum and that such education should cover courses on emotional education, sex education and gay and lesbian education?” (Read: Why So Many Referendums This Year?)

In all five cases, voters overwhelmingly came out on the side of the status quo, dealing a harsh blow to supporters of marriage equality, members of Taiwan’s LGBT community, and people around the world who have for the past few years looked to Taiwan as Asia’s progressive beacon of hope for gay and lesbian rights.

Indeed, the numbers themselves were daunting for Taiwan’s LGBT community and its allies in the global progressive community; without going into specific numbers, Taiwan’s voters in 2018 seemed to vote overwhelmingly against (around two to one, in most cases) any changes in the legal code that would recognize same-sex marriage or specifically promote legal equality for LGBT people.

But those in the global LGBT communities who may be tempted to lose heart, buying into the narrative “Stories of Taiwan’s increasing social liberalization may be overstated,” there are some bright spots to be gleaned from what seems to be a step backward on the part of the Taiwanese electorate.

Source: Facebook@equallovetw

While the overall population came out against LGBT equality in this election, support for LGBT equality was quite high among voters from younger demographics (Read: 2017 State of the Nation Survey). And while Taiwan as a whole may as of yet be unready to accept full court-mandated LGBT equality, that such issues were even put to a national vote in Taiwan points to Taiwan’s increasingly progressive nature. Ten years ago, issues like these wouldn’t have been discussed around most dinner tables in Taiwan. For the past two, they’ve been discussed freely at a national level. (Read: PRIDE, Healing and Taiwan’s LGBTQ Community: A Conversation with Olivia Wu)

And while the people of Taiwan as a whole ultimately voted against LGBT equality, the fact that the Taiwanese people were able to vote on the issue at all demonstrates the overall commitment to democracy of a nation barely three decades removed from one-party rule and history’s longest period of martial law. Taiwan remains East Asia’s most progressive, diverse and democratic society.

Editor's note: On Feb 20, 2019, Taiwan's Cabinet revealed the name as well as the outline of the same-sex marriage draft bill, with the naming considered a move to dodge the debates between the pro- and anti-gay marriage groups. Once the bill passes, Taiwan will become the first Asian country which legalizes same-sex marriage.

Edited by Sharon Tseng

Taiwan Scene is the online journal of MyTaiwanTour.

We publish stories introducing readers to the culture, scenery and travel possibilities of our homeland, articles to help travelers make the most of their time in Taiwan, and occasional interviews with movers and shakers from Taiwan’s ever-expanding creative scene.

Original content can be found at the website of Taiwan Scene: Taiwan votes against LGBT equality, but all is not lost

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