Electoral paths and support for same-sex marriage legislation: Evidence from Taiwan’s mixed-member system
| DOI | 10.1177/0192512116633207 |
| Date | 01 November 2017 |
| Published date | 01 November 2017 |
https://doi.org/10.1177/0192512116633207
International Political Science Review
2017, Vol. 38(5) 563 –576
© The Author(s) 2016
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DOI: 10.1177/0192512116633207
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Electoral paths and support for
same-sex marriage legislation:
Evidence from Taiwan’s
mixed-member system
Timothy S Rich
Western Kentucky University, USA
Abstract
To what extent do electoral institutions influence positions on same-sex marriage? Debates over same-
sex marriage legislation have increased globally for the past 20 years, yet little research focuses on either
debates in East Asia or the effect of electoral institutions. Using an original dataset on Taiwanese legislators
and their public stances on same-sex marriage, this research finds that legislators elected under proportional
representation (PR) are consistently more likely to support same-sex marriage laws than their counterparts
elected in single-member districts (SMDs), even after controlling for partisanship. The results here not
only highlight overlooked institutional influences on support, but also tie the broader literature on mixed-
member systems to the growing research on same-sex marriage rights.
Keywords
Same-sex marriage, legislature, Taiwan, mixed-member system
Introduction
Legalization of same-sex marriages, along with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
rights more broadly, has become commonplace in Western democracies. In contrast, East Asia
remains a regional outlier with no country recognizing such marriages and few extending broader
legal protections. However, within the region, Taiwan appears as one of the most socially liberal
countries and as such the most likely to pass such legislation. Proponents call for amending Article
972 of the country’s civil code to legalize same sex marriage, yet there remains no systematic shift
in public opinion among Taiwanese partisans. Furthermore, existing public opinion surveys sug-
gest a lack of difference between supporters of the main opposition, the Democratic Progressive
Party (DPP),1 and the Kuomintang (KMT).
Corresponding author:
Timothy S Rich, Department of Political Science, Grise Hall 300, 1906 College Heights Blvd. #11060 Bowling Green,
KY 42101-1060, USA.
Email: Timothy.rich@wku.edu
633207IPS0010.1177/0192512116633207International Political Science ReviewRich
research-article2016
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