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Jacques Camille Picoux (9 November 1948 – 16 October 2016) was a lecturer on French language and literature at National Taiwan University[1] who died by suicide on 16 October 2016.[2] He held a solo artist's exhibition in 2012[3] and was also known for playing the character Kong Kong in the 2015 film The Assassin directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien.[4]
A prominent member of the LGBT community who had lived there since 1979,[3] Picoux was 68 years old.[4] His death generated a wave of public sympathy for the LGBT community,[5] and catalyzed the Legislative Yuan to propose bills for the legalization of same-sex marriage in Taiwan. According to Picoux friends, he decided to end his life because he had no legal rights to make medical decisions on behalf of his cancer-stricken partner, Tseng Ching-chao, nor did he have any legal rights to the home they had shared for nearly 40 years.[2] Tseng was the global agent of notable Chinese actress Gong Li.[4]
Picoux's death led to criticisms of the newly elected President Tsai Ing-wen, who had campaigned on promises to legalize same-sex marriage.[6] Public polls around the time showed that nearly three-quarters of the Taiwanese people supported same-sex marriage.[7]
In 2019, Taiwan legalized same-sex marriage, and many people held a remembrance for Picoux at the time. Some groups in Taiwan have honoured him when advocating for LGBT rights in Taiwan, promising that there won't "be another Jacques Picoux"-like tragedy.
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LGBT rights advocates have said that there may now be a breakthrough in legislation, with an increase of support for same-sex marriage among members of the Legislative Yuan.[8] Taiwanese Pride Watch activist Cindy Su says that "We actually can see that there are about 66 legislators who will probably vote yes on marriage equality", making it a majority of 58.4%.[8]
Former Grand Justice Hsu Tzong-li has said that if it can be proved that homosexuals are a natural minority that have been misunderstood as abnormal, then it follows that the laws stating marriage is only between a man and a woman could be considered unconstitutional.[9] Justice Hsu will become the nation's next Judicial Yuan President, after lawmakers approved his nomination in October 2016.[10]
Yu Mei-nu, a member of the Democratic Progressive Party, has drafted a new law to be presented to legislators, and it may be passed as early as next year.[8] If it does pass, Taiwan would be the first Asian country to legalise same-sex marriage.[11] Homosexuality is considered taboo in many East Asian countries, and is illegal across much of South Asia.[7]
President Tsai is an open supporter of same-sex marriage, and has said she would support any decision made by the parliament.[12]
Same-sex marriage in Taiwan became legal on 24 May 2019. This made Taiwan the first nation in Asia to recognize same-sex marriage.[13][14]
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Taiwan is considered a very progressive society regarding gay rights,[12] in a region where citizens of some countries can still be jailed for being gay.[15] In December 2016, Taiwan's highest health authority announced plans to ban conversion therapy, which aims to change a person's sexual orientation. The Ministry of Health and Welfare said that the ban would take effect from March 2017.[16]
However, Taiwanese author Chu Hsin-yi (瞿欣怡), has criticized Taiwan for "calling itself gay-friendly... while being unwilling to let loose, even a bit, regulations affecting gay rights."[17]
Despite fervent campaigning from anti-LGBT rights groups, LGBT rights in Taiwan made a historic step forward in 2019 with the legalisation of same-sex marriage. Though there are still some things missing from the introduction of same-sex marriage, such as international spouses from countries that do not allow same-sex marriages to be performed being barred from marrying in Taiwan itself, it is viewed as a great move forward for LGBT rights in the region.
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