Gay Groups

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A Presbyterian priest became Taiwan's first openly gay Christian minister at a ceremony here yesterday, news reports said.

Tseng Shu-min was ordained a minister in the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church.

"We should give him blessings and encouragement," ruling Democratic Progressive Party parliamentarian Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美&#29748 told reporters before she participated in the ceremony.

"Hopefully basic human rights would be respected here in Taiwan."

No officials of the church were immediately available for comment.

Domestic gay groups welcomed the event, which Chan Ming-chou from the Taiwan Gay and Lesbian Association described as a "milestone" in the improvement of human rights on the island.

"After efforts for so many years, now local gays affiliated with the Christian church can have their own priest," Chan told AFP.

"Either from religion's or domestic gay activity's point of view, it is of significance."

The DPP government has been pressing for the enactment of a Human Rights Basic Law which enshrines the right of homosexual couples to adopt children, among other provisions, including abolishing the death penalty.