Taiwan’s ruling made me curious about how the news was being received by LGBTQ people across Asia. Did they too face cultural and institutional oppression against their gender and sexuality, or were their countries more accepting? Would the ruling have any impact on their livelihoods? Is Taiwan an inspiration for their leaders to consider marriage equality or LGBTQ rights overall, or will it not matter as much? I set out to find out by reaching out to LGBTQ activists in 42 Asian countries.

Evangelical Christians, televangelists and other conservative religious leaders have been convicted of rape, sexual misconduct, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, rape as an accomplice, polygamy, infidelity, solicitation of male and female prostitutes, incest, sexual conduct with minors, taking indecent liberties with young boys and … stealing a sex toy from a woman’s home. Yet the ball’s still in their court. Why is that?