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Taiwan holds first same-sex Buddhist wedding

You Ya-ting and Huang Mei-yu married in a historic ceremony at a monastery in Taoyuan on Saturday.

13/08/12 14,612 Views 29 Comments
Image: You Ya-ting, left, and her partner Huang Mei-yu stamp their names in front of a statue of Buddha in the prayer hall as they are married in the first Taiwan same sex Buddhist ceremonial wedding

TWO TAIWANESE WOMEN have tied the knot  in the country’s first same-sex Buddhist wedding ceremony on Saturday.

Taiwan still does not legally recognize same sex marriage but the Taipei Times says You Ya-ting and her partner Huang Mei-yu have written an open letter to President Ma Ying-jeou urging the government to change this.

The couple exchanged prayer beads and stamped seals on a marriage certificate during the ceremony at a monastery in Taoyuan County, Taiwan.

Ya-ting (30) and Mei-yu (30) are both Buddhists, and have been going out for seven years.

Inquirer Life & Style said that the women were married by a female Buddhist master, Shih Chao-hui.

Yesterday, a March for Marriage was held in Dublin, calling for marriage equality in Ireland.

Taiwan holds first same-sex Buddhist wedding
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  • Taiwan Wedding

    Huang Mei-yu, left, and her partner You Ya-ting sit together before the first same-sex Buddhist ceremonial wedding in Taoyuan, Taiwan, Saturday. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

  • Taiwan Wedding

    Huang Mei-yu, left, and her partner You Ya-ting arrive in the prayer hall to be married in the first same-sex Buddhist ceremonial wedding in Taoyuan, Taiwan, Saturday. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

  • Taiwan Wedding

    Huang Mei-yu, left, and her partner You Ya-ting are greeted by Buddhist nun Shih Chao-hui before they take part in Taiwan's first same-sex Buddhist ceremonial wedding in Taoyuan, Taiwan, Saturday. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

  • Taiwan Wedding

    Huang Mei-yu, left, and her partner You Ya-ting pray before the first same-sex Buddhist ceremonial wedding in Taoyuan, Taiwan, Saturday. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

  • Taiwan Wedding

    Huang Mei-yu, left, and her partner You Ya-ting receive gifts from supporters before the first same-sex Buddhist ceremonial wedding in Taoyuan, Taiwan, Saturday. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

  • Taiwan Wedding

    You Ya-ting, left, and her partner Huang Mei-yu exchange prayer beads as they are married by a nun in the first same-sex Buddhist ceremonial wedding in Taoyuan, Taiwan, Saturday. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

  • Taiwan Wedding

    You Ya-ting, left, and her partner Huang Mei-yu stand with Buddhist nun Shih Chao-hui in front of a statue of Buddha in the prayer hall after marrying in the first same-sex Buddhist ceremonial wedding in Taoyuan, Taiwan, Saturday. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

  • Taiwan Wedding

    You Ya-ting, left, and her partner Huang Mei-yu stamp their names in front of a statue of Buddha in the prayer hall as they are married in the first same-sex Buddhist ceremonial wedding in Taoyuan, Taiwan, Saturday. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
  • Huang Mei-yu, left, and her partner You Ya-ting sit together before the first same-sex Buddhist ceremonial wedding in Taoyuan, Taiwan, Saturday. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
  • Huang Mei-yu, left, and her partner You Ya-ting arrive in the prayer hall to be married in the first same-sex Buddhist ceremonial wedding in Taoyuan, Taiwan, Saturday. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
  • Huang Mei-yu, left, and her partner You Ya-ting are greeted by Buddhist nun Shih Chao-hui before they take part in Taiwan's first same-sex Buddhist ceremonial wedding in Taoyuan, Taiwan, Saturday. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
  • Huang Mei-yu, left, and her partner You Ya-ting pray before the first same-sex Buddhist ceremonial wedding in Taoyuan, Taiwan, Saturday. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
  • Huang Mei-yu, left, and her partner You Ya-ting receive gifts from supporters before the first same-sex Buddhist ceremonial wedding in Taoyuan, Taiwan, Saturday. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
  • You Ya-ting, left, and her partner Huang Mei-yu exchange prayer beads as they are married by a nun in the first same-sex Buddhist ceremonial wedding in Taoyuan, Taiwan, Saturday. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
  • You Ya-ting, left, and her partner Huang Mei-yu stand with Buddhist nun Shih Chao-hui in front of a statue of Buddha in the prayer hall after marrying in the first same-sex Buddhist ceremonial wedding in Taoyuan, Taiwan, Saturday. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
  • You Ya-ting, left, and her partner Huang Mei-yu stamp their names in front of a statue of Buddha in the prayer hall as they are married in the first same-sex Buddhist ceremonial wedding in Taoyuan, Taiwan, Saturday. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

Read: In photos: Crowds March for Marriage in Dublin>

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Aoife Barry
aoife@thejournal.ie

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