New Zealand (Marriage allowed 17 April 2013)
The New Zealand Parliament held parliamentary vote which succeeded by a margin of 77 – 44. New Zealand was the first Asia Pacific country to legalise same-sex marriage. The NZ Parliament burst into applause, and then song, after the vote succeeded, with the politicians and public gallery rising to their feet. This legislation was crucially supported by the country’s conservative then-Prime Minister, John Key.
Taiwan (marriage must be allowed by 2019)
The Taiwanese Supreme Court ruled that Taiwan must allow same-sex marriage by 2019. If the parliament fails to allow it, same-sex couples will be able to register civil unions by order of the Court. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen openly supported same-sex marriage in the campaign that led to her election.
Nepal
In 2007, the Nepalese Supreme Court ruled in favour of allowing same-sex marriage, but there has not been parliamentary will or movement on the issue so far. Since that time, a committee of experts has been formed in order to review the options. Nepal is one of the most LGBTIQ+ friendly countries in the Asia Pacific. Earlier this year, Nepal registered a transgender marriage.
External territories
External territories of other countries within the Asia Pacific also allow same-sex marriage, some of these include, New Caledonia (France 2013), Guam (USA - 2015), and the Pitcairn Islands (UK - 2013).
Civil Unions
Civil Unions are allowed in New Zealand and in Japan, in the Shibuya district (2015) and Sapporo (2017).
Australians in the Australian Capital Territory can avail themselves of a civil union, after the High Court previously struck out other ACT legislation allowing them in 2013. The other states, apart from Western Australia and the Northern Territory have various formulations of recorded and/or registered relationships, with various degrees of enforceable rights that come from them.
Campaigns and legal battles are also underway in a number of other countries, particularly Thailand, South Korea and Philippines.
Australia may soon join the 25 countries that have legalised same-sex marriage, and be the second in the Asia Pacific region to take this step.
This debate is not just about marriage, but equality before the law.
