Relational Well-Being Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Young Adults in Taiwan: Before and After the Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage

Introduction On May 24, 2019, Taiwan became the first country in Asia to legalize marriage between two same-sex adults. While increasing research has been conducted in western countries to document the health and mental health effects of same-sex marriage (SSM) legalization for sexual minorities (i.e., lesbian, gay, and bisexual [LGB]), less is known about the contribution of this policy reform regarding family and marriage to relational well-being stemming from a reciprocal, authentic, and supportive relationship. Such a focus on relationship-level outcomes is particularly relevant to this study in Taiwan, where a person’s sense of well-being heavily relies on family relationships and social harmony. Methods Fifteen self-identified LGB adults participated in in-depth interviews, once before (April 2019) and once after (May 2020) implementation of the legislation, to describe the immediate changes they experienced or observed over this period. Results Thematic analysis identified various effects of SSM legalization in fostering their self-acceptance and disclosure, prospect of romantic relationships, openness and closeness with parents, and visibility and public acceptance of LGB people that contributed to their relational well-being as a sexual minority in Taiwanese society. Conclusion Through the lens of relational well-being, this study adds a novel and culture-specific insight to contemporary discussion about the consequence of marriage equality and provides important evidence for policymakers, researchers, and activists. Policy Implications Same-sex marriage legalization can potentially strengthen relational well-being among sexual minority communities and should be considered by policymakers.