Nearly 10 thousand people gathered in front of parliament to protest
against the legalization of marriage between persons of the same sex and
adoption of children by gay couples. The protest began at seven in the morning (local time) today, when MPs initiated a review of two amendments to the Civil Code which would allow the new law.
In recent weeks, the measure passed the first three readings and the final draft should be presented to Parliament next month.
The vote for the approval should be held in February 2017. If the law is passed, Taiwan would become the first country in Asia to legalize marriages between persons of the same sex.
Protesters denounce a "hasty legislative process" and demand that the issue be decided through a popular referendum. Thousands of people held placards that read: "Marriage, family, let the people choose ".
Josie Chen, a teacher taking part in the protest, says: "We do not want the institution of marriage destroyed by a minority of people who plan to do what they want. [What they want] is not legal and not what our society is founded on”.
Even some supporters of gay marriage have gathered in front of Parliament to make their voice heard. Oct. 29, 80 thousand people had taken part in a "gay pride" in Taipei to seek the approval of the law.
The division of society surfaced during one of the last parliamentary sessions, when a fight broke out among the deputies of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, the Government) and the opposition Kuomintang.
The legalization of marriages between persons of the same sex was proposed in Taiwan as early as 2013, but was rejected.