Gay Couples Tie Knot For The First Time At Taiwan Military Wedding
Taiwan has made history after two Taiwanese same-sex couples tied the knot at a mass wedding hosted by the military in another landmark for Asia's LGBT community.
Nearly 200 couples paraded at an army base in northern Taoyuan county before exchanging vows at an outdoor ceremony. Among them were two Taiwanese female soldiers and their civilian same-sex partners, a first for the island's armed forces which regularly hosts mass weddings for staff, as ‘Bangkok Post’ reports.
“This is another big step forward for the military,” Lieutenant Chen Ying-hsuan, dressed in her army uniform, told reporters. “I hope more same-sex couples can bravely stand out. The military is open and we are all equal in front of love,” the 27-year-old added.
“Our love is no different than any heterosexual couple,” beamed her 26-year-old bride Li Li-chen, dressed in a traditional white gown. “We are here today in the hope that more same-sex couples will join the next (mass wedding).”
Major Wang Yi, 36 and her partner Yumi Meng waved rainbow flags as they posed for photos with family in front of an armoured vehicle. “It's great to see the progress in the military,” said Meng, 37, adding that she was “proud” her wife was a serving soldier.
Photos of the two couples have gone viral after they were posted on the army's Facebook page, with congratulatory messages pouring from across Taiwan and beyond.
Three same-sex couples were planning to join a mass wedding hosted by the Navy and the Air Force last year, but they pulled out following huge media interest.
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