Professor’s death in Taiwan

The death of a gay professor could propel Taiwan into becoming the first Asian country to legalise same-sex marriage by the end of next year.

More than 80,000 LGBT activists and supporters are expected to take to the streets of the Taiwanese capital, Taipei, on Saturday for what is expected to be Asia’s largest ever gay pride parade.

The annual event of 14 years will have its usual celebratory feel. But this year revellers march in the knowledge that they may be on the cusp of making civil rights history in terms of marriage equality.

It would be a hard-fought victory for Taiwan’s LGBT community, but also one tinged with sadness after the suspected suicide of Frenchman Jacques Picoux, on 16 October became a rallying call against the failure of the government to make progress on legalising same-sex marriage.

Picoux, 67, who taught French at the National Taiwan University, died after falling from the tenth floor of his Taipei apartment block. Friends believe he had taken his own life.

They blamed depression after the death last year by cancer of his Taiwanese partner of 35 years, Tseng Ching-chao.

Picoux had reportedly been crushed when his lack of legal status denied him the right to participate in crucial medical decisions in Tseng’s final moments. He later found himself with no legal claim over the property they shared.

After his death the gay community lashed out against the government led by president Tsai Ing-wen, who was elected in January on a pledge to boost equality rights.

“How many more human lives do we have to lose as a result of the government’s gross negligence?” charged prominent rights group, the Taiwan LGBT hotline association.

However, Picoux’s personal tragedy generated such public sympathy that lobby group Pride Watch Taiwan, has described it as a “pivotal moment” in the gay rights movement.

A new draft bill tabled by the ruling Democratic Progressive party [DPP] on Monday to amend family law in favour of LGBT rights was a “breakthrough”, they said.

“We actually can see that there are about 66 legislators who will probably vote yes on marriage equality,” said Pride Watch activist, Cindy Su. “That’s a majority of 58.4%, the first time in Taiwanese history that we have more than half,” she said.

Recent polls also show a public majority in favour of same-sex marriage.

Sitting in her parliamentary office, the DPP’s Yu Mei-nu, who drafted the new law, freely admits that she would not have such strong support if it had not been for Picoux’s death.

“This story touched people,” she said. “The LGBT group were very angry. It has put a lot of pressure on our party and on other parties.”

Taiwan’s progress towards legalising gay marriage is largely down to Yu’s efforts.

Under the previous administration, ruled by the Kuomintang party, she steered a similar draft law through two years of negotiations, only to have it collapse when legislators were too afraid to turn up for a final vote.

Yu admits she felt “somewhat upset”, but believes it prepared the ground for future success.

“This time it is time,” she said. Taiwanese society and the parliament were more ready to accept changes to the civil code to grant gay couples equal rights in marriage, parental authority and freedom from discrimination in adoption cases.

Yu is optimistic the law can be introduced as early as next year.

Jay Lin, the organiser of Taiwan’s first awards ceremony for promoting LGBT rights, which was due to take place on Friday, said much still had to be done to break down societal taboos about gay relationships, but conceded that Picoux’s death had softened public attitudes.

A day after Yu’s bill was published, Picoux and Tseng’s ashes were scattered together in the sea on Taiwan’s southeast coast.

“That tragedy really brought it home. It’s not just legislation or a piece of paper, it’s about love and commitment and not being able to fulfil that,” said Lin.