Taiwan authorities are investigating a top official at the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau (MJIB) for allegedly spreading misinformation.
Yan Cheng-yi is accused of sharing incorrect information about the leader of parliament on social media, according to the Taipei Times.
The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) has called him in for questioning.
Earlier this month, Yan also circulated a Facebook post criticizing President Tsai Ing-wen and her government for legalizing same-sex marriage.
Taiwan in May this year became the first place in Asia to recognize same-sex unions.
But, Yan wrote, same-sex marriage would ‘bring AIDS to Taiwan and create big business opportunities for some companies.’
He said: ’85 percent of people afflicted with AIDS are gay men, and Taiwan’s national health insurance would have to pay for all their medical treatment, so it is a big profit generator for a biotech company controlled by Tsai.’
The road to marriage equality in Taiwan
Taiwan in May became the first place in Asia for same-sex marriages, after years of campaigning, court rulings, referendums, and, finally, legislation.
More than 1,000 same-sex couples wed in Taiwan in the month since it became the first place in Asia for equal marriage.
Taiwan’s parliament approved a bill to legalize same-sex marriage on Friday 17 May.
Taiwan’s parliament voted in favor of a government bill offering same-sex couples similar rights to opposite-sex couples.
The government bill, which largely avoids the term ‘marriage’, has been labeled a compromise by LGBTI rights campaigners.
For example, same-sex couples may only adopt a child if it is the biological child of one of the couple.
In 2017, the country’s highest court ruled the Civil Code was unconstitutional. It failed to recognize same-sex marriage.
But, in a bitterly-fought referendum, most Taiwanese citizens opted for separate marriage law. They chose this rather than changing the civil code which would have brought genuine equality.
LGBTI rights campaigners accused conservative and Christian groups of running a well-funded campaign of hate and scare-mongering.
The crucial 4th line of the bill passed with 93 lawmakers voting for the bill, 66 opposing, and 27 abstaining.
See also
From the macho society of Peru to a Taiwanese army camp: a QPOC story
More than 1,000 couples got married in Taiwan’s first month of equal marriage
This is the sad reason why one Taiwanese same-sex couple divorced, weeks after marrying