Same-Sex Marriage Advocacy in East Asia - A Regional Perspective

Join us for an insightful webinar bringing together prominent LGBTQ+ advocates from East Asia to discuss recent developments, ongoing challenges, and opportunities for shared advocacy and learning across the region. 

Featured Speakers: 

• Jennifer Lu — Director for Asia Programs at Outright International. 
• Minhee Ryu —Co-founder and staff attorney for Korean Lawyers for Public Interest and Human Rights (KLPH). 
• Takeharu Kato — Director of Marriage For All Japan. 

Key Topics of Discussion: 

Taiwan: 

Taiwan is a pioneer in legalizing same-sex marriage in Asia, achieving this historic milestone in 2019. Same-sex couples now have full marriage rights, including adoption rights. 

Despite significant legal progress, challenges around social acceptance remain, and LGBTQ+ individuals continue to face discrimination in certain communities. 

South Korea: 

In 2025, South Korea made historic progress by including same-sex couples as spouses in the national census. While same-sex marriage and civil partnerships remain unrecognized, the government has taken steps to extend national health insurance spousal coverage to same-sex couples. However, support for same-sex marriage remains limited, and public opinion on LGBTQ+ rights is still divided. 

Japan: 

In Japan, while same-sex marriage is not legally recognized at the national level, local governments issue partnership certificates that provide limited social recognition to same-sex couples. In late 2025, the Tokyo High Court ruled that Japan's ban on same-sex marriage is constitutional, a setback for marriage equality. This ruling contradicts previous rulings by other high courts that found the ban unconstitutional, and the case is expected to be taken up by Japan’s Supreme Court in 2026 for a final nationwide decision.

This webinar offers a unique opportunity to compare the experiences and strategies of LGBTQ+ rights movements across East Asia, providing insights into how cross-border learning can foster stronger advocacy and social change.