Taiwan is considering whether to allow gay couples to establish families and adopt children, according to an official at the Ministry of Justice. The bill has been sent to the cabinet for review, and will then need to be approved by parliament.

"In accordance with the draft of basic laws on human rights protection, the government should safeguard the human rights of homosexuals by allowing them to form families and adopt children. But this is not tantamount to marriage," the official told the Taipei Times.

"Based on the civil laws of Taiwan, marriage consists of the relationship between a man and a woman who live together permanently. When two individuals of the same gender live together it is not classified as marriage." He added.

Local gay rights groups have welcomed the bill. "It is a big breakthrough in our long struggle for gay rights," said Lai Yu-lin, secretary-general of the Taiwan Tongzhi Hotline Association.

However, he said he is disappointed that gays and lesbians could not attain identical rights to heterosexual couples because their right to marry is still prohibited.

Lai also added that the government should also look into having anti-discrimination laws. He cited examples of gay students being expelled from schools and prevented from attending classes and gays denied job opportunities or have been sacked for their sexual orientation.

"These are issues that deserve urgent attention from the government," he said.