Gay groups in
Taiwan to set up "Rainbow Republic"

Gay groups in Taiwan are so angry that the government is not protecting their rights, they plan to set up a country for gay men and lesbians called the Rainbow Republic, Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported Friday. They aren't joking. Even the new government's logo will be the rainbow flag. "We will begin preparations next year and start by renting an office to house the government of the Rainbow Republic. The Rainbow Republic will have a parliament, a foreign ministry, and court to register gay marriages," Chan Ming-chou, director-general of the Taiwan Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Association, told reporters at a news conference. "The republic will issue identity cards to Taiwan homosexuals and work toward promoting gay rights in Taiwan." Chan criticized Taiwan's government for taking back its 2001 promise to legalize marriage for same-sex couples. "So we do not harbor any hopes anymore. We refuse to accept the jurisdiction of the Taiwan government and will found our own country and government to protect our rights," he told the wire service. Despite Taiwan gay rights activists' complaints, Taiwan is ahead of most Asian countries in the area of gay rights. The island has one gay bookstore, one gay hotline, and dozens of gay rights groups, according to the wire service. The Taiwan government has drafted the Human Rights Basic Law, which will legalize marriage for gay and lesbian couples. If passed, the measure will make Taiwan the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage. (Advocate.com)