Same-Sex Marriage in Asia: An Intra-Regional Analysis of Legal Development and Research

In the last decade, legal recognition of same-sex marriage has been rapidly developing in Asia. This paper asks: What is the current state of development of same-sex marriage in Asia? How can we explain the development seen in some but not other parts of Asia? How can existing research literature help us understand same-sex marriage in Asia? This paper provides a review of the recent development of legal recognition of same-sex marriage in Asia by categorizing the vast region into four subgroups. It debunks oversimplification of the region and highlights intra-Asian differences, and even differences within a subregion. This paper also critically reviews the research literature that pertains to the developments of same-sex marriage in Asia. This paper shows that the family and sexuality landscape in Asia has undergone dramatic shifts, and argues that debates about marriage and family in Asia ought to take diversity, especially same-sex marriage, more seriously.