Approximately 1,000 people attended the mass wedding of 60 Taiwanese lesbian couples, which took place during a private ceremony. Although only symbolic, the weddings are part of a campaign to legalize marriage equality in the nation, which restricts marriage to heterosexual couples. Taiwan became the first country in Asia [in ’03] to introduce a bill that would legalize marriage equality and allow same-sex couples to adopt children. However, President Ma Ying-jeou said public support is needed before the measure can be debated. \u201cWe are celebrating the recent legalization of gay marriage in New York,\u201d said organizer AJ Wang, \u201cand we hope that Taiwan will make the same move in the near future. We also want the public to see that so many gay couples are committed to each other and they deserve to be recognized and treated fairly.\u201d<\/p>\n