Fridae

Pro-gay groups have joined together under the banner of the Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights.

The group have used to strong language to express their intention to fight against homophobic religious groups that are attempting to gain seats in the Legislative Yuan to block the passage of a same-sex marriage bill.

The amendment, more commonly known as the "marriage equality bill," cleared its first reading in the Legislative Yuan in 2013 and was reviewed for the first time in the Legislature's Judiciary Committee last December. Since then, it has been shelved, largely due to opposition from religious groups.

At a press conference Sunday, held under the theme "Declaring All-Out War Against Homophobic Religious Forces, Hsu Hsiu-wen highlighted newly established religious groups, including the Faith and Hope League who are believed to have been involved in organising a rally against same sex marriage in 2013.

"In the foreseeable future, they will systematically suppress gay rights in the political realm, with their actions backed by the huge organizational strength and financial funding of the church," said Hsu, who is also a legislator-at-large candidate for the political alliance between Taiwan's Green Party and Social Democratic Party.

Hsu also announced she will begin a 28-day tour around Taiwan later this month to raise awareness of same-sex marriage and other gay rights issues.