KUALA LUMPUR: Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activists are optimistic in Vietnam that the country could be the first in Asia to allow same-sex marriage. A senior minister said recently that the issue will see public consultation on the idea and could become legal in the country in the near future. Earlier this month, the country's justice ministry announced it “would be seeking public comment on proposed amendments to the Marriage and Family Law including changes allowing for same-sex marriage,” Gay News Network reported. The ministry added that it was looking at legal recognition as an increasing number of LGBT citizens in Vietnam are “being open about their relationships,” and many hopeful that the government will allow them to legally wed in the Southeast Asian country. “To guarantee personal freedom, the marriage between same sex people needs to be recognized," the ministry said. In an online debate earlier this week, Justice Minister Ha Hung Cuong said that although he thought it “unacceptable to create social prejudice against the homosexual community," the government would need to consider the customs and ethics as well as cultural and legal issues before allowing gay marriage. “Personally, I believe that the recognition or non-recognition of same sex marriage should be based on very basic research, the credible assessment of impact on many social and legal aspects such as personal freedom, compatibility with cultural and social practices of Vietnamese families, sensitivity, social consequences of the law," Cuong said on July 24. “The State should also have legal mechanisms to protect the legitimate rights such as legal personality, property ownership or children (if any) of same sex couple living together." Le Quang Binh, a sociologist who directs the non-profit Institute for Studies of Society, Economy and Environment in Hanoi, commended Cuong's comments saying Vietnam could be soon seen as a regional leader on gay rights. “As far as I know, no Asian country allows same-sex marriages," Binh told Vietweek. “This idea has impressed my colleagues from other countries in the region who are very hopeful that Vietnam would be able to deliver on this."
