May 24 (UPI) -- Taiwan's highest court ruled Wednesday that current civil law prohibiting same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.
The Council of Grand Justices gave the Taiwanese parliament, known as the Legislative Yuan, two years to amend Article 972 of the country's civil code, or write a new law, reflecting that agreements to marry can be undertaken by two people of the same sex. The court's decision effectively legalizes same-sex marriage, taking Taiwan one step closer to becoming Asia's first country to recognize same-sex marriage.