<p>Two Taiwanese soldiers and their civilian same-sex partners will tie the knot at a mass wedding hosted by the military on Friday in another gay rights landmark in Asia.</p>.<p>Taiwan is at the vanguard of the burgeoning gay rights movement in Asia and became the first place in the region to allow same-sex marriage in May 2019 after a bruising political fight.</p>.<p>The armed forces regularly put on mass weddings for staff, and the ceremony to be held on Friday will see two same sex-couples taking part -- a first for the military.</p>.<p>"Our country ... has become the first in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage and the ministry gives its blessings to same-sex servicemen who are getting married," it said in a statement.</p>.<p>Photos of the two couples were posted on the army's Facebook page.</p>.<p>They both showed soldiers in uniforms with their partners donning traditional Qipao dresses that Taiwanese brides often wear for weddings.</p>.<p>The post quickly went viral with over 25,000 "likes" under one of the photos and congratulatory messages pouring in.</p>.<p>"It's great the Army can post this photo," read one message.</p>.<p>"Congratulations, so happy to see Taiwan's progress!" echoed another.</p>.<p>Three same-sex couples were planning to join a mass wedding ceremony hosted by the Navy and the Air Force last year, but they pulled out following huge media interest.</p>.<p>Taiwan was once an authoritarian region ruled by Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, but in recent decades it has emerged as one of Asia's most vibrant liberal democracies.</p>.<p>In the last ten years, it has become increasingly progressive on gay rights with Taipei hosting by far Asia's largest annual pride parade.</p>.<p>Last year, Taiwan made history with the region's first legal gay weddings after parliament passed a same-sex marriage law with couples tying the knot in jubilant scenes broadcast around the world.</p>.<p>Around 4,000 couples have registered their marriages since the law took effect.</p>.<p>But the issue has caused deep divisions on the island, especially among conservative groups and older generations.</p>.<p>The gay marriage law still contains restrictions not faced by heterosexual couples.</p>.<p>Same-sex couples can only wed foreigners from countries where gay marriage is also recognised, and they can only adopt their partners' biological children.</p>
<p>Two Taiwanese soldiers and their civilian same-sex partners will tie the knot at a mass wedding hosted by the military on Friday in another gay rights landmark in Asia.</p>.<p>Taiwan is at the vanguard of the burgeoning gay rights movement in Asia and became the first place in the region to allow same-sex marriage in May 2019 after a bruising political fight.</p>.<p>The armed forces regularly put on mass weddings for staff, and the ceremony to be held on Friday will see two same sex-couples taking part -- a first for the military.</p>.<p>"Our country ... has become the first in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage and the ministry gives its blessings to same-sex servicemen who are getting married," it said in a statement.</p>.<p>Photos of the two couples were posted on the army's Facebook page.</p>.<p>They both showed soldiers in uniforms with their partners donning traditional Qipao dresses that Taiwanese brides often wear for weddings.</p>.<p>The post quickly went viral with over 25,000 "likes" under one of the photos and congratulatory messages pouring in.</p>.<p>"It's great the Army can post this photo," read one message.</p>.<p>"Congratulations, so happy to see Taiwan's progress!" echoed another.</p>.<p>Three same-sex couples were planning to join a mass wedding ceremony hosted by the Navy and the Air Force last year, but they pulled out following huge media interest.</p>.<p>Taiwan was once an authoritarian region ruled by Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, but in recent decades it has emerged as one of Asia's most vibrant liberal democracies.</p>.<p>In the last ten years, it has become increasingly progressive on gay rights with Taipei hosting by far Asia's largest annual pride parade.</p>.<p>Last year, Taiwan made history with the region's first legal gay weddings after parliament passed a same-sex marriage law with couples tying the knot in jubilant scenes broadcast around the world.</p>.<p>Around 4,000 couples have registered their marriages since the law took effect.</p>.<p>But the issue has caused deep divisions on the island, especially among conservative groups and older generations.</p>.<p>The gay marriage law still contains restrictions not faced by heterosexual couples.</p>.<p>Same-sex couples can only wed foreigners from countries where gay marriage is also recognised, and they can only adopt their partners' biological children.</p>