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大法官釋憲確立同志家庭平等享有權利保障
兌現總統婚姻平權政見、儘速通過民法修正草案

婚姻平權大平台 新聞稿 2017年5月24日

在兩個月的等待之後，我們看到司法院大法官用釋字748號寫下了台灣憲法與性別運動史上的里程碑：這是第一次，憲法解釋面對台灣法律對於同志社群的性傾向歧視，做出違反憲法平等、婚姻自由等基本權的違憲宣告。在台灣，許多的法制都已經從兩性平等修正為性別平等之後，我國憲法解釋終於跨越僅有兩性的性別平等權論述。這不僅只是台灣的重要時刻，更是全球關注的亞洲亮點，這號解釋將成為亞洲指標，為所有國家帶來性別平權的正向浪潮。

大法官在釋憲結果中，訂出2年的期限，要求立法機關應及在期限內完成修法，若非如此，期限後同志就能憑著大法官解釋直接結婚。婚姻平權大平台也期待立法院承擔作為亞洲指標的責任，儘速啟動修法，還給人民應有的權利。正如2013年來台灣分享主筆南非婚姻平權判決經驗的大法官奧比薩克斯所說，國會通過法案象徵著「全國民意」的共同決定，經歷公共參與的民主過程，能夠療癒這個社會過去因歧視帶來的傷害，成為鞏固平等的基礎。

婚姻平權的議題在立院已被擱置11年，2006年蕭美琴委員所提出的同性婚姻法在程序委員會被惡意阻擋，2013年由伴侶盟研議、鄭麗君委員等提出的婚姻平權草案僅進入司法法制委員會就法案詢答，無法進入逐條討論，到了2016年尤美女、蔡易餘、許毓仁及時代力量黨團等跨黨派委員都提出了婚姻平權法案，並在委員會初審通過，我們終於看到婚姻平權的一線曙光。但將近半年的時間，法案並未啟動協商，更未有任何一位委員再提出相關提案。

2017年，身為憲法守護者的司法院大法官在今天宣告現行民法違憲、揭示婚姻平權方符憲法價值，給予立法者更清楚的憲法指示。婚姻平權大平台呼籲，立法者不應再猶疑、怠惰，而應立即啟動法案協商及後續立法程序，讓婚姻平權從期待成為現實，給予同性伴侶應有的法律保障。根據報導，第九屆立法院的第三會期，將在5月31日正式結束，而後就是三次臨時會，我們誠摯呼籲，立法院應在會期結束前展開協商，到下個會期開始前，用通過法案來落實蔡英文總統競選時的唯一公開承諾的性別政見：婚姻平權。

蔡英文總統在選前以彩虹卡進行募款宣傳，2015年10月31日於其臉書公開承諾支持婚姻平權，當時的婚姻平權法案就是民進黨立委鄭麗君、尤美女等提出的民法修正草案，別無其他專法。因此我們要特別提醒立委諸公，切勿以專法混淆視聽，同性伴侶法並非婚姻平權，我們一再強調，隔離不是平等，現今最直接、最完整保障同性伴侶與同志家庭權益的修法模式，就是已經通過初審的民法修正草案。請立委們秉持憲法平等精神，儘速三讀通過婚姻平權民法修正案，現在就是台灣在國際上宣示平等、人權的最好時機。

今天婚姻平權大平台在立法院前，與群眾一同迎接司法院公布大法官釋憲的結果，就是想提醒民進黨立院黨團儘速兌現總統政見，也呼籲各黨立委支持憲法平權保障同志家庭。婚姻平權大平台特別製作透明的彩虹小卡發送給現場與會夥伴，邀請每一位到場的朋友利用手機手電筒功能，分區使用透明彩紅卡上不同的色塊，讓我們在夜晚，即使遇到保守阻力，也能憑著彩虹光芒照亮平權路，點亮台灣，讓全世界看到。讓人民手中的彩虹光芒，再一次點亮蔡英文總統選前提出的「點亮台灣」的願景，保障每一個同志平等享有結婚成家的權利。

未來，婚姻平權大平台將持續深化溝通，除了持續推動與女書店合作「打造地方性別小書庫」送書給立委的活動，也期待有更多支持婚姻平權的朋友們，多多關懷自己選區的立法委員，傳達應儘速修正民法的民意。如同大法官也在解釋文提到，祁家威在司法、行政已奮鬥逾30年。祁家威大哥說，他已經等了41年，人生還有幾個41年？我們不應該再繼續等待。婚姻平權，就是現在！

<關於婚姻平權大平台>

婚姻平權大平台由五個長期著力於性別平權的團體組成，分別是台灣同志諮詢熱線協會、台灣同志家庭權益促進會、婦女新知基金會、台灣同志人權法案遊說聯盟、Queermosa Awards 酷摩沙獎，與尤美女委員及其辦公室共同提出討論長達半年的民法修正草案（俗稱婚姻平權草案）。

Grand justices confirm equal rights for same-sex families via constitutional interpretation
To realize marriage equality, the Legislative Yuan should pass the Civil Code amendment as soon as possible  

News release by Marriage Equality Coalition, 2017/05/24

After waiting for 2 months, we finally witness the grand justices marking a new milestone in the history of gender movements as well as the Constitution of Taiwan with J.Y. Interpretation No. 748. This is the first time that an interpretation of the Constitution declares the discriminations embedded in Taiwanese laws against the LGBTQ community unconstitutional, as they violate the fundamental rights of equality and marriage freedom granted by the Constitution. As many legal regulations in Taiwan have shifted from pursuing “equality between the two genders” to “gender equality,” this interpretation of the Taiwanese Constitution finally moves beyond a dual gender narrative. It is not only an important moment for Taiwan, but also an Asian highlight that attracts global attention. The interpretation is expected to bring positive influences on gender equality in other Asian countries such as Japan and Korea.

In their interpretation, the grand justices demand the Legislative Yuan to amend the existing Civil Code within 2 years, or else same-sex couples would be given the right to marriage in two years based on this interpretation. This result is what we have been looking forward to. As the former South African judge Albert Louis Sachs said when sharing in Taiwan his experience with drafting the ruling on marriage equality on the Constitutional Court in South Africa, a bill passed by the parliament symbolizes an unified decision of the “entire public,” and this democratic process that involves public participation could heal the harms caused to the society by discriminations in the past, as well as solidify the foundation for equality.    

The issue of marriage equality has been pending in the Legislative Yuan for years. In 2006, the marriage equality bill proposed by Legislator Hsiao Bi-Khim was blocked in the Procedure Committee. The 2013 marriage equality bill drafted by Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights and proposed by Legislator Cheng Li-Chiun was only introduced into the Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee but failed to proceed to the review of each individual article. In 2016, when various versions of marriage equality bill were proposed by legislators representing various parties, including Yu Mei-Nu (DPP), Hsu Yu-Jen (KMT) and the New Power Party , and went through the preliminary review in the committee, we finally saw the first light of marriage equality. However, as nearly half a year has passed, the bill is still not under further deliberation and no legislator has introduced other relevant proposals.  

Now in year 2017, since the grand justices- who are seen as the guardian of the Constitution- declare the existing Civil Code unconstitutional and that marriage equality is consistent with the Constitutional value, we believe that legislators should no longer hesitate and idle, but immediately start deliberation on the bill and continue with further legal procedures, turning marriage equality into a reality and granting same-sex couples the legal protection they deserve. According to media reports, the third term of the 9th Legislative Yuan would end on May 31st, which would be followed by three extraordinary sessions. We sincerely urge the Legislative Yuan to start its deliberation by the end of the term and to pass the bill before the next term starts, in order to realize the only gender-related agenda President Tsai Ing-Wen had introduced during the election: marriage equality.

Prior to the presidential election, Tsai Ing-Wen openly promised her support for marriage equality on her Facebook page on October 31st, 2015. The marriage equality bill she referred to at that time was the Civil Code amendment proposed by Legislator Cheng Li-Chiun and Yu Mei-Nu, not any other special acts. Therefore, we would like to remind all DPP legislators that, the interpretation given by the grand justices emphasizes the spirit of equality for all, and the protection of rights granted by our Constitution should be extended to same-sex families. We urge DPP legislators not to mislead the public with other special acts. A civil union act for same-sex couples does not equal to marriage equality. Right now is certainly the best moment to realize President Tsai’s promise, to pass the Civil Code amendment bill and to legalize same-sex marriage.

We have to emphasize once again: separation is not equal. At present, the most direct legislative option to offer the most comprehensive protection for same-sex couples and families is the proposed Civil Code amendment that already went through the first reading. We, the Marriage Equality Coalition Taiwan, would continue our collaboration project with FemBook “Building a small gender library in your neighborhood” and give out relevant books to legislators. In the meantime, we hope more and more supporters of marriage equality could contact the legislator in their constituency, expressing their support for the amendment to the existing Civil Code. As the two-time applicant for a constitutional interpretation Chi Chia-Wei said, he has been waiting for 41 years, but how many 41 years does one have in one’s life? We shall wait no more. Marriage Equality should happen now.

Media contact:    Wayne Lin  Chairperson of Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBT) Hotline Association