THE HIT: The Hong Kong government says heterosexual marriage would be “diluted and diminished” and “no longer be special” if gay people were allowed to wed. The island of Hong Kong is a self-governing part of China.
THE SLAY: The autonomous island of Taiwan, which China also claims as part of its territory in a long-running dispute, legalises gay marriage, becoming the first country in Asia to do so. Thousands of gay rights supporters take to the streets to celebrate, and hundreds of same-sex couples tie the knot. Activists call for LGBT+ equality across Asia, including in China and Hong Kong.