Taiwan holds same-sex Buddhist wedding

[DSFriend]

I find this refreshingly progressive especially coming from the chinese culture which are known to be conservative. I've read that HHDL do not approve of such relationships.

Source : http://www.iol.co.za/news/world/taiwan-holds-same-sex-buddhist-wedding-1.1360508#.UCfLX2Me4U8

August 12 2012 at 03:36pm
REUTERS

You Ya-ting (2nd L) and Huang Mei-yu (2nd R) take a photograph with their friends and the Buddhist host Shih Chao-hwei (C) after casting their stamps during their symbolic same-sex Buddhist wedding ceremony at a temple in Taoyuan county, northern Taiwan.

Two women tied the knot on Saturday in Taiwan's first same-sex Buddhist wedding, a move rights groups hope will help make the island become the first place in Asia to legalise gay marriage.

Fish Huang and her partner You Ya-ting, both wearing traditional white bridal gowns, said “I do” in front of a Buddha statue and exchanged prayer beads rather than rings in a monastery in Taoyuan, in northern Taiwan.

Nearly 300 Buddhists chanted sutras to seek blessings for the couple, both aged 30.

Shih Chao-hui, a female Buddhist master who presided over the ritual, hailed it as a historic moment.

“We are witnessing history. The two women are willing to stand out and fight for their fate... to overcome social discrimination,” said Shih, a well-known advocate for social justice.

“Some people might find it astounding (a woman performing the ceremony) but Buddhism does not engage in ideological struggles and I am used to strange looks from my own experience in the social movement,” she said.

The couple's parents were notably absent from the ceremony, in an indication of the pressure facing some homosexuals and their families.

“Our parents initially agreed to attend and they regret that they couldn't be here. We understand that people have different acceptance of media exposure and we want to give them more space,” Huang said shortly before the wedding.

“We hope with the master's support, the wedding will change many people's perspective even though it is not legally binding,” said the social worker. “We hope the government can legalise same-sex marriage soon.”

Taiwan is one of the most culturally liberal societies in East Asia, and gay and lesbian groups have been urging the government for years to make same-sex unions legal.

Aiming to create awareness about the issue, about 80 lesbian couples tied the knot last year in Taiwan's biggest same-sex wedding party, attracting about 1,000 friends, relatives and curious onlookers.

Taiwan's cabinet in 2003 drafted a controversial bill to legalise same-sex marriage and allow homosexual couples to adopt children.

However, President Ma Ying-jeou has said public consensus was needed before the government can move ahead with the law.

Gay rights groups drafted a new bill earlier this year and urged Ma to push for its legislation before his term ends in 2016. - AFP

[RedLantern]

Taiwan is one of the most culturally liberal societies in East Asia and gay and lesbian groups  have been  urging the Government for years to make same sex union legal.
Aiming to create awareness about the issue,about 80 lesbian  groups tied the knot last year in Taiwan's biggest same sex wedding party attracting about 1,0000 friends ,relatives and curious onlookers.
Two women tied the knot on Saturday.Taiwans first same sex marriage Buddhist wedding of Fish Huang and her partner Yau Ya Ting.
Shih Chao Lin, a female Buddhist master who presided on the ritual,hailed it as a historic moment.

[vajratruth]

Congratulations to the couple and I am glad that it was a Buddhist wedding ceremony. There are some who insist that sexual relations between two people of the same sex tantamount to "sexual misconduct". The Dalai Lama has said that homosexual sex is a sexual misconduct because the main purpose of sex is procreation and in that sense, homosexual sex is "unnatural".

Personally I have some difficulty understanding that, and my reading of the Five Precepts indicates to me that it is not the gender and the sexual activity per se but the intentions and consequence of the act that determines whether there is a misconduct.  Also I don't see how the laws of karma might distinguish and discriminate between various sexual positions and orifices that become involved in a gay couple sex, and that in heterosexual sex.

The Buddha's blessings fall on every single sentient being and if the Buddha's teachings do no discriminate between a life expressed in a human form and a life taking shape in the form of an animals, then gender of two human beings should have no bearing whatsoever.

[Manjushri]

Wow, of all countries in Asia, I would least expect Taiwan to fight to legalise same-sex marriage! I always assumed that they're a very traditional society, and what's more is that this wedding took place in a county in Northern Taiwan - it's not even in the capital city!

What I admire is the courage of these two ladies to face the public, face the media, face Taiwan and the world to stand and fight for their rights and beliefs. Love and marriage isn't about the gender, or bound by rules. It should illustrate the beauty of what the two individuals share between one another and that is love, respect, sincerity, loyalty, kindness, care, generosity and compassion - to shoulder each other's problems so that both can lead a happy life. Unity of 2 people should not be bound by society's rules.

[bambi]

I dont think that same sex marriages are a problem. And for Taiwan to be that open is eye opening! Can you imagine how much GLBT couples have to go through just to be with each other in the open and admitting it. They are brave and most of all, it doesnt matter whether its a same sex marriage or not so long as they practice what Buddha taught in their everyday life and for their relationship to be harmonious and be there for each other.

[Galen]

This is a first step towards more liberalisation. Buddhism does not discriminate whether which race or gender you are. I take this event as something positive. A couple should be able to express their love for each other freely and does not need to succumb to political or social judgements posed on them. This nuptial unity shows their love and commitment to each other to lead a life as a couple.

To me, our present life, we are in a vessel, so whether we are male or female, it is just a temporary body for us to generate more merits to gain enlightenment. What is important is our mind as it will continue on with our next rebirth to the next to the next. We may be a woman this life, but a man or an animal next life. So, do not be fixed with marriage of the same sex is not condoned by some people.