Taiwan becomes first country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage

Taiwan has become the first country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage, as its parliament shot down last-minute objections from conservative politicians to approve the change in a vote on Friday.

The constitutional court had given parliament two years to come up with legislation on same-sex marriage, after ruling that gay couples had the right to legally marry.

Three possible bills were debated, including two by conservative groups that referred to same-sex "civil-unions" or "family relationships" rather than marriage. These were rejected, and the most progressive of the three was passed.

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