PHOTO STORY: Taiwan Reacts to Landmark Gay Marriage Ruling

PHOTO STORY: Taiwan Reacts to Landmark Gay Marriage Ruling
The crowd cheers as the Constitutional Court says banning same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. Photo Credit: The News Lens/Olivia Yang

What you need to know

Moments before and after Taiwan's top court rules in favor of gay marriage.

A top Taiwan court ruled in favor of gay marriage today, in a landmark ruling that paves the way for the country to become the first place in Asia to legalize same-sex unions. The Constitutional Court said Taiwan's Civil Code, which says an agreement to marry could only be made between a man and a woman, "violated" the constitution's guarantees of freedom of marriage and people's equality. It gave Taiwan's government two years to implement the ruling.

Read more: Taiwan Court Rules in Favor of Same-Sex Marriage

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Photo Credit: The News Lens/Olivia Yang
Long time LGBT rights activist Chi Chia-wei preparing the rainbow flag he characteristically drapes over his back.
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Photo Credit: The News Lens/Olivia Yang
The crowd waiting for Taiwan's Constitutional Court's ruling.
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Photo Credit: The News Lens/Olivia Yang
The crowd waiting for Taiwan's Constitutional Court's ruling.
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Photo Credit: The News Lens/Olivia Yang
Waiting for Taiwan's Constitutional Court's ruling.
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Photo Credit: The News Lens/Olivia Yang
Waiting for Taiwan's Constitutional Court's ruling.
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Photo Credit: The News Lens/Olivia Yang

Waiting for Taiwan's Constitutional Court's ruling.
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Photo Credit: The News Lens/Olivia Yang
LGBT rights activist Jennifer Lu (呂欣潔) on stage.
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Photo Credit: The News Lens/Olivia Yang

The crowd cheers as the Constitutional Court says banning same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.

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Photo Credit: The News Lens/Olivia Yang
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Photo Credit: The News Lens/Olivia Yang
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Photo Credit: The News Lens/Olivia Yang
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Photo Credit: The News Lens/Olivia Yang
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Photo Credit: The News Lens/Olivia Yang

Editor's note: Words by AFP. Images by Olivia Yang/The News Lens