(TAIPEI, Taiwan) — In a first for Asia, Taiwan’s Constitutional Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage on Wednesday, punctuating a years long campaign by advocates for gay rights in one of the continent’s most liberal democracies.

In its majority opinion, the court said a provision in the current civil code barring same-sex marriages violated two articles of the constitution safeguarding human dignity and equality under the law.

Authorities must now either enact or amend relevant laws within two years, failing which same-sex couples could have their marriages recognized by submitting a written document, the court said.

The ruling was greeted with rapturous applause outside the legislature not far from the court in the center of the capital, Taipei, where hundreds had gathered with rainbow flags and noisemakers emblazoned with slogans in favor of gay marriage.

Read more