文 / 倫敦講臺

儘管日前美國爆發奧蘭多激進份子威脅事件，倫敦同志驕傲遊行，依然於6月25日如期舉行。2016年的封街遊行，吸引超過75萬人、300個團體報名，在倫敦的臺灣遊子，也以「倫敦講臺」（Formosa Salon）名義參與，訴求「臺灣同志婚姻合法化」（Legalise Same Sex Marriage in Taiwan）。為讓世界看到臺灣在LGBTQ+議題上走在亞洲前端，倫敦講臺發起照片串聯活動，邀請世界各地的朋友一同支持臺灣成為繼美國、歐洲各國之後，第一個通過同性婚姻合法化的亞洲國家，將海外支持「婚姻平權、多元成家」的力量傳遞回臺灣。

2013年，臺灣伴侶權益推動聯盟提出的「多元成家法案」，使婚姻平權與LGBTQ+議題成為注目焦點，多元成家法案不只涉及同性婚姻立法，也包括伴侶制度和家屬制度。這樣不限於性別、親屬，而以共同居住為主要「成家條件」的進步概念，不僅是尊重多元、追求平等權益的象徵，實際上更貼合當代社會的人際需求。可惜的是，這些進步概念，仍因部分民眾固守舊有觀念而遲遲無法突破。

為破除部分臺灣民眾對「婚姻平權與多元成家等同打破社會倫理秩序」的誤解，倫敦講臺決定在今年以行動發聲，走進倫敦同志驕傲遊行，將歐洲經驗傳遞回臺灣，並將臺灣的訴求放諸國際，希望再次捲動臺灣在性別運動上的能量。針對本次行動，倫敦講臺也獲得總統府轉達總統予以肯定之意，並重申蔡英文總統支持婚姻平權的立場：「因為在愛之前，大家都是平等的。」

根據統計，目前臺灣已有超過半數臺灣公民支持婚姻平權，倫敦講臺這次行動，除了希望喚醒社會討論之外，更希望在競選期間，曾以民進黨主席身分在臉書發表短片，表態支持婚姻平權的總統蔡英文，可以落實「讓臺灣成為多元平等、性別友善國家，是520就職總統後，要努力實踐的事」之承諾，讓這塊土地離平等成家夢想最近的時刻，盡快到來。

倫敦同志大遊行從1972年第一次號召群眾走上街頭，距今已45年。這些年來，英國的社會氣氛、法律狀況，都有了非常大的轉變。最顯著的，是2013年英格蘭和威爾斯地區通過的同性婚姻合法化。但此立法並沒有停下遊行的腳步，同志大遊行仍致力於倡議更友善的社會、更平等的權利，為世界上永無止境的人權議題持續發聲。

「倫敦講臺」（Formosa Salon）於2014年成立於倫敦，取其倫敦公共論壇及在倫敦談論臺灣事務之雙重寓意；成員主要是倫敦及周邊城市約十餘所大學學院的跨科系之臺灣留學生、研究人員及社會人士。倫敦講臺旨在促進以臺灣為主要關懷的公共討論，它不為特定的政治立場服務，但鼓勵深刻的思辨與開放的態度，藉由對話面對歧見。參加者除臺灣旅英學人外，亦有對臺灣議題有興趣的香港、新加坡及中國友人。雖然臺灣向來被認為是對LGBTQ+相對友善，並引領亞洲地區推動LGBTQ+權益的指標國家，但我們也有更多深切的期許，期盼這片土地更加平等、公義與多元，支持與接納每個人身而為人的基本尊嚴和條件。 「倫敦講臺」包括倫敦政經學院（LSE）、倫敦大學學院（UCL）、亞非學院（SOAS）、國王學院（KCL）、瑪莉皇后學院（Queen Mary）、金匠學院（Goldsmiths）、帝國理工學院（Imperial）等校，並旁及牛津、劍橋、萊斯特、布萊頓、坎特等地學府。

Taiwan: Be the first in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage

Formosa Salon, a group of Taiwanese who study or work in London, will be taking part in the capital’s Pride march for the first time to speak up for LGBTQ+ community and same-sex marriage in Asia. Our hope is that Taiwan will become the first country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage.

Although in the past ten years, Taiwan has made a huge progress in protecting LGBTQ+ rights, LGBTQ+ people are still unprotected by the law in many circumstances. Formosa Salon will march in Pride to send the message back to Taiwan and also to our first female President Tsai Ing-wen to keep her promise, and support marriage equality.

On 20th May 2016, the newly elected Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen was officially sworn into office as the first female President in Taiwan’s history, and the first Presidential candidate who has publicly expressed her support for marriage equality. President Tsai’s victory represents a huge opportunity for Taiwan to legalise same sex marriage. President Tsai’s promise can be accomplished by her political party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which won a majority of seats in the Legislative Yuan (the Taiwanese Congress) in the last election. Having secured the political advantage the chances of getting legislative support have improved. That is why many believe that Taiwan could be the first Asian country to legalise same-sex marriage.

However, it is not only the same sex marriage bill that is being presented in the Legislative Yuan, the other two bills, the civil partnership bill and the multiple-person household bill, are also waiting for the public and legislators’ attention. These two bills progressively challenge the traditional concept of marriage which is only constituted by romantic love between opposite sex partners or even by sexual obligation, and focus on a mutual supporting and caring form of partnership and further reinforce the social safety net in the society.

In terms of LGBTQ+ rights, Taiwan has the most progressive policies in Asia. Discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in education and employment has been banned since 2003 and 2007 respectively.

Starting from 2011, LGBTQ+ rights are included in the curriculum of primary and junior high schools to increase awareness of gender diversity. The more liberal and progressive work environment in the education arena for the LGBTQ+ community is evident by the case of a transgender teacher, Tseng Kai-Hsin, in a male senior high school. She underwent reassignment surgery in 2015. Contrary to her concerns about being forced to retire, Tseng’s decision was met with support from students, parents and the administration of the school. She is often invited to share her life story on the media and became a well-known role model.

Several poll results also show a more liberal and friendly attitude towards LGBTQ+ rights in Taiwanese society. One poll carried out by the Ministry of Justice between August and October 2015 reveals that around 71% of Taiwanese support same-sex marriage.

The wide public support for same-sex marriage encourage local governments to take initiatives to protect same-sex couples before legal marriage is available. As of May 2016, 10 local governments, covering over 79% of the population, have recognised the household registration of same-sex relationships. Although the household registration is far from marriage or civil partnership, it nevertheless facilitates same-sex couples to deal with legal issues whenever a certificate of relationship is needed, such as signing medical consent on behalf of one’s partner.

60 members of Formosa Salon are standing in solidarity with Orlando’s LGBTQ+ community and LGBTQ+ supporters in London. We will line up with Taiwanese press and LGBTQ+ advocate groups (e.g. TAPCPR# and Hotline*) to launch a photo campaign, ‘LOVE FOR ALL’ on social media and live tweet our parade pictures and videos on 25 June. Our aim is to raise awareness of LGBTQ+ communities’ circumstances in both Taiwan and Asia as a whole, and speak up for ’Legalising Same-sex Marriage in Taiwan’, speak up for the right to love, and the right to be loved.

Annotations:

#Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights *Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBT) Hotline Association

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