By Chen Wei-han / Staff reporterThe Cabinet plans to ask all local governments to recognize household registrations by same-sex couples before same-sex marriage is fully legalized, even as the Executive Yuan remains undecided on how to legalize such marriages. “If there are local governments that refuse to comply — which they are legally entitled to do, as household registration is within local governments’ authority — I will ask the Ministry of the Interior to accept household registration for same-sex partners,” she said. Of the nation’s 22 local governments, 11 recognize household registrations by same-sex couples, including all six special municipalities, and registrations from 2,060 couples, including 1,643 lesbian couples and 417 homosexual couples, Chen said. Household registration is not legally binding, but allows partners to deal with such practical matters as signing consent for surgery and asking for family care leave. The legalization of same-sex marriage requires changes to laws defining parent-child relationships and inheritance, Chen said.

Source: Taipei Times May 31, 2017 16:16 UTC