Recognition of gay unions in China

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Legal recognition of Same-sex unions
Same-sex marriage
Belgium Canada Netherlands Norway (eff. 2009-1-1) South Africa Spain
Recognized in some regions
United States (MA, CA eff. 2008-6-16 at 5:01 p.m. PDT)
Foreign marriages recognized
Aruba Israel Netherlands Antilles United States (NM, NY, RI)
Civil unions and registered partnerships
Andorra Czech Republic Denmark Finland France Germany Hungary (eff. 2009-1-1) Iceland Luxembourg New Zealand Slovenia Sweden Switzerland United Kingdom Uruguay
Recognized in some regions
Argentina (C, R, VCP) Australia (TAS, SA, ACT, VIC eff. 2008-12-1) Brazil (RS) Canada (QC) Mexico (Coah., DF) United States (CA, CT, DC, HI, ME, NH, NJ, OR, VT, WA)
Unregistered co-habitation
Australia Austria Brazil Colombia Croatia Israel Portugal
Recognition debated
Argentina Austria Australia (QLD) Brazil Chile China Colombia Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Estonia Ecuador Faroe Islands Greece Ireland Italy Jersey Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Poland Romania Slovakia Taiwan United States    (IA, IL, MD, NM, NY, RI)
Same-sex marriage debated, recognition granted
Czech Republic Denmark France Hungary Iceland New Zealand Portugal Sweden United Kingdom United States (CT, DC, HI, ME, NH, NJ, OR, VT, WA)
See also
Same-sex marriage Civil union Registered partnership Domestic partnership Timeline of same-sex marriage Listings by country
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The People's Republic of China allows neither same-sex marriage nor civil unions.

The Chinese Parliament in 2003 proposed legislation allowing same-sex marriages. During the course of the debate the proposal failed to garner the 30 votes needed for a placement on the agenda. Same-sex marriage supporters have vowed to keep pressing for its passage in the People's Republic of China. Though this issue was rejected, this was the first time that an item of gay rights was discussed in China. However, not long before the new marriage law went into effect, an officer stated in a press conference that same-sex marriage is still forbidden in China, on August 19, 2003.

Li Yinhe (李銀河), a sexology scholar well-known in the Chinese gay community, tried to legalize same-sex marriage during the National People's Congress in 2000 and 2004 (Legalization for the Chinese Same-Sex Marriage,《中国同性婚姻合法化》 in 2000 and Chinese Same-Sex Marriage Bill, 《中国同性婚姻提案》in 2004). These two attempts failed. Many scholars and gay people in China don't think it's possible for China to pass such a law in the near future. In addition, the Chinese government has recently banned overseas gay adoption, contributing to speculation gay marriage will not be legalized soon.

Chinese culture is known to be conservative, and based on traditional Confucian values. While gay marriage may have stronger support in urban centers such as Shanghai and Hong Kong, it may be difficult to pass a same-sex marriage law.

[edit] Hong Kong

Homosexuality was decriminalised in Hong Kong in 1991. No measures have been put in place to allow same sex marriage nor to formally recognise existing same-sex marriages. [1]

[edit] See also

• Homosexuality in China: Same-sex marriage
• Marriage in China
• Same-sex marriage in Taiwan
• Queer representation on Chinese Film - Cui Zi En 崔子恩