Lesbian Couples Plan Mass Wedding in Taiwan

An estimated 60 lesbian couples will marry in Taipei later this month in a ceremony inspired by the new marriage equality law in New York and designed to push the Taiwanese government to act on the issue.

According to Agence France-Presse, "Around 1,000 people have purchased tickets for the private event, which will take place at an overnight party in Taipei later this month, including visitors from China, Thailand and the US, said organiser AJ Wang."

Organizers said they did not expect a crackdown, although same-sex marriage is not legal in Taiwan. Last year LGBT rights groups hosted the largest Pride parade in Asia with 30,000 attendees.

A cabinet bill from 2003 to allow same-sex couples to marry and adopt children has not been reviewed yet by parliament, reports AFP. President Ma Ying-jeou said that public consensus needed to be achieved before the government could proceed with the controversial legislation.