TAIPEI, Taiwan — In a first for local governments, Taipei City employees are now entitled to marriage and paternity leave for same-sex relationships that are registered with the household registration office. Earlier this year, the Constitutional Court ordered lawmakers to find a means of legalizing same-sex marriage within two years. The city's action was made to ensure gay couples' rights in the meantime, with Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) also noting that related entitlements, such as marriage and paternity leave, were not yet offered by the private sector. No new legislation or revisions has been passed yet, according to the Central News Agency. The news comes after the Ministry of the Interior announced July 2 that gay couples living in a city or county that did not offer same-sex relationship registration would be allowed to register their relationships in other areas.

Source: The China Post July 19, 2017 06:11 UTC