The marriage equality referendum in Taiwan ended with a defeat for LGBT supporters as most Taiwanese voted for the concept of marriage not to be extended, insisting it should remain a heterosexual monogamous union. But regardless of the referendum results there is a chance that same-sex relationships will be recognized in Taiwan, at least in the form of civil partnerships. This is because Taiwan’s High Court ruled in May 2017 that forbidding same-sex couples to marry is against the country’s Constitution. So, now the Taiwanese lawmakers are in a trap – on the one hand the High Court demands to legalize same-sex marriages but on the other hand the citizens made it clear that they don’t want it. Amnesty International Taiwan’s Acting Director, Annie Huang said the result was “a bitter blow and a step backwards for human rights in Taiwan.” Amnesty International said the referendum results do not change “the need to provide legal recognition to same-sex unions,” however added that the results will “cast a shadow on how that will be implemented.”
