Taiwan’s government is planning to legalize gay marriage.

The cabinet and the office of the president are drafting the legislation jointly.

“The human rights of homosexuals have been gradually recognized by countries around the world,” the president’s office said. “To protect their rights, [gay] people should have the right to wed and have a family based on their free will.”

Gay activists cheered the news. The measures are expected to be sent to parliament in December.

Meanwhile, the island saw its first gay-pride parade Nov. 1 in Taipei.

About 1,000 people, some wearing masks, walked from the cruisy 228 Peace Park to a theater in the entertainment district.

Organizers called it the Chinese world’s first gay march.

Mayor Ma Ying-jeou agreed with that assessment and promised attendees, “If you live in Taipei city, we will not commit any discrimination or harassment against you because of your sexual orientation.”

Marcher Lee Ming-chao, director of the Tongzhi Hotline, told the Taipei Times, “I certainly wish we could go on [and march] for three hours across the city, but this is already a good start.”

The word “tongzhi” encompasses gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people. Literally, it means comrade.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Poland, Cardinal Józef Glemp, is grossed out by gays, he said Oct. 21.

“It is something very depressing for me, as it is something incompatible with human nature,” he told reporters. “I just can’t stand men kissing. Maybe I’m old-fashioned.”

MPs from Poland’s ruling party have proposed legislation recognizing same-sex partnerships, which the church opposes.

Spanish gays launched a drive for same-sex marriage Oct. 22.

Backed by the Socialist Workers and United Left parties, three couples applied for marriage licenses in Madrid and Valencia. A registry judge will respond to their request by Nov. 5. If the request is rejected, the couples will file suit in Spain’s constitutional court and, if necessary, at the European Court of Human Rights later.

“We are going to try to win in the courts as happened in Canada,” one of the six individuals, Boti García, told the newspaper El Mundo.

Another of the activists, Pedro Zerolo, also is a member of the Madrid city council, for the Socialists.

Some of Spain’s autonomous regions already grant some spousal rights to same-sex couples in areas such as taxes, health care and adoption.

This past summer, the highest courts in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and British Columbia legalized same-sex marriage, effective immediately. The federal government agreed with the rulings, which declared the heterosexual definition of marriage unconstitutional, and has moved legislation to open up the institution nationwide.

New Zealand’s biggest gay celebration, the Hero Festival, has recovered from a $140,000 (US$85,840) debt and will carry on, the Central Leader reported Oct. 29.

A group of Auckland gay businessmen helped negotiate settlements with creditors. The next festival is set for February.

The Israel Police will appoint a gay liaison in every district following a meeting with gay activists who are angry about police harassment in cruisy parks.

Members of the Association of Gay Men, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgender in Israel met with Police Commissioner Shlomo Aharonishki and Tel Aviv District Commander Yossi Sedbon Oct. 29 to discuss several incidents where cops beat up cruisers in Independence and Electricity parks.

The harassment ended after a team of gay people armed with video cameras and rainbow flags began patrolling Independence Park and, on one occasion, chased gay-bashing officers out of the park.

A measure set to take effect next year in the United Kingdom will increase penalties for crimes committed due to anti-gay animosity.

Three anti-gay hate crimes are recorded daily in London and 38 percent of UK gays and lesbians say they’ve been victimized.

Britain’s BSkyB network has postponed a reality series it taped in which six suitors courted a woman they did not know was a pre-op transsexual, the BBC reported Oct. 31.

The male contestants, claiming they were “traumatized” and “devastated” by the experience, threatened to sue to stop broadcast of the series, “There’s Something About Miriam,” which was taped several months ago on Ibiza.

The men allege breach of contract, deceit, personal injury and sexual assault. They kissed and cuddled with Miriam during the taping.

“Six of them went onto this reality TV show on the understanding they’d have to do various tasks to win the affection of a very beautiful woman,” the contestants’ lawyer told Reuters. “After they’d been encouraged to have sexual contact, they found that she was a he — they all found it extremely traumatic.”