When Marriage Became a Choice : Marriage Decisions among Lesbian Couples in Taiwan

This article explores same-sex marriage decisions under the changing laws in Taiwan, and whether or not legal recognition is bound up in a couple’s notions of commitment. In line with my analysis of lesbian family practices, I revisit participants from fieldwork in 2010 who were still in their original relationships when Taiwan legalised same-sex relationship in 2019. Data shows that marriage decisions are intertwined with ‘push’ and ‘pull’ elements. Coming-out conflicts and a lack of family support are factors that postpone decisions to marry, while legal recognition of the relationship and parenting reinforce them. I argue that marriage remains a privilege for those who ‘can’ marry, and same-sex marriage is thus a critical lens for (re)examining sexual citizenship and for delving into the diversity of non-heterosexual lives