Gay rights are largely taboo in Central Asia and Asia-Pacific, with gay marriage and civil unions largely left-off of national political agendas in the region.
New Zealand is one of the only countries in Asia-Pacific to legalize marriage between same-sex couples. Until April 17, 2013, gay marriage and the rights that accompany it were not legal there. A law on civil unions was passed in December 2004, but following President Obama’s statement on May 9, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key noted he was “not personally opposed to gay marriage,” according to the Associated Press.
A bill calling for the legalization of gay marriage went before Australia’s parliament in 2012, however Prime Minister Julia Gillard stated she would not support the bill, and it did not pass.
In September 2011, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III told an audience at the Asia Society Forum in New York that he respected the rights of gay couples to marry, however, he has yet to make any concrete steps toward legislation.
