Taipei City OKs recording same-sex partnerships

2015/06/22

Same-sex couples can record their partnerships at household registration offices in Taipei following a decision June 17 by the local government to show greater support for the city’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Although the record is not legally binding, it does represent a strong step forward in raising public awareness and understanding of LGBT issues. Taipei is the nation’s second metropolis after Kaohsiung City in southern Taiwan to implement the measure.

Hong Jin-da, chief of Civic Registry Division of the city’s Department of Civil Affairs, said same-sex marriage remains a controversial topic in Taiwan. “There is still a long way to go before such couples can enjoy the same benefits as legally married ones, but our move is in keeping with trends in other parts of the world.”

According to Hong, a partnership can be recorded only when both sides have a registered address in the city. “It cannot be used to claim rights of inheritance or asset distributions, nor will it show in personal identification cards or household transcripts," he said.

“Under the ROC Civil Code, only a man and a woman can be joined in matrimony.”

The record can, however, address some needs of same-sex couples in daily life, especially if both partners sign consent forms disclosing personal information to a third party.

“For example, the record will make the partners key related parties to each other, and give them the right to consent for operations in the case of medical emergencies,” Hong said.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=231670&ctNode=413)