If you’ve spent any time here at Taipei American School (TAS), you’ve undoubtedly seen Mr. Chase Williams around before. Known across campus for his fervent devotion to the TAS Speech & Debate Program, active involvement in American politics, advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and intense love for all things Disney, Mr. Williams has become an invaluable and widely-loved member of our community. Yet, a recent struggle of his – one that has captured headlines and hearts across Taiwan – has remained unbeknownst to many here at TAS: Mr. Williams and his Filipino husband, Mark Macabitas, have been involved in a brutal legal battle with the Taiwanese government for nearly 2 years over recognition of their marriage.

The couple met in 2021 on the dating app Bumble while Mr. Williams was living in Taipei and Mr. Macabitas was working at a factory in Kaohsiung. After a year of long-distance dating, they decided to tie the knot. “We flew into the US right after the start of winter break [in 2022] and we got the license, and it was very easy,” said Mr. Williams. “We brought our passports, and then that license was signed at the ceremony we had on Dec. 26.” Ever since the Supreme Court struck down all state bans on same-sex marriage (SSM) in the 2015 case of Obergefell v. Hodges, SSM registration has become a relatively smooth-sailing process all over the US.

Similarly, Taiwan appears to have established a national precedent for acceptance of non-traditional families and couples. After officially allowing same-sex couples to apply for marriage registration in 2017, Taiwan became the first ever Asian country to legalize SSM. But, while this monumental legislative measure may seem inclusive and liberating, a daunting loophole exists in its intricacies: although the government recognizes SSM between two Taiwanese nationals, a Taiwanese national and a foreigner, and two foreigners when both parties are from countries where SSM is legal, it refuses to recognize SSM between two foreigners when one party is from a country where SSM is illegal, regardless of where the marriage license was obtained. Because the Philippines has yet to legalize SSM, Mr. Williams and Mr. Macabitas have fallen victim to this legal gap.

But, if you know Mr. Williams, you know “surrender” isn’t in his vocabulary. The couple were already aware of the loophole when they began dating, but in the hopes of building a more secure future together and making Mr. Macabitas eligible for a spousal visa (which would optimize his employment opportunities, among other benefits), they decided to apply for marriage registration anyways. Upon receiving their marriage license, Mr. Williams immediately began communicating with the Taipei Economic & Cultural Office (TECO) in Los Angeles and the Manila Economic & Cultural Office (MECO) in Taipei to discuss the specific structure of SSM policy in both Taiwan and the Philippines. After receiving a negative ruling from MECO, Mr. Williams and Mr. Macabitas began the process of pursuing legal marriage status in Taiwan.

“In August of 2023, we went to the Beitou registration office knowing that we were going to get denied,” said Mr. Williams. “After we got denied in person, [the office had] to mail [us] their justification, which is the legal explanation for why [we] got denied. And then, at that point, [we had to] appeal back to Beitou.” After their district appeal, the couple appealed to Taipei City, filing letters of support from friends, TAS parents and even the director of the American Institute of Taiwan (AIT). After getting denied at the city level, Mr. Williams and Mr. Macabitas filed a lawsuit in the Taipei Administrative Court in February of 2024, and are currently awaiting their court date. No specific advancements have been made in their case since.

“There’s this assumption that Taiwan is so great on these issues [of LGBTQ+ rights], and so there are a lot of people who are supportive and are allies, but don’t realize that we haven’t fully achieved equality yet,” said Mr. Williams. “It’s sometimes difficult to mobilize interest or support because of that lack of knowledge”. However, the couple’s journey has been uplifting and empowering in many ways. Along with being featured in a TaiwanPlus documentary-style video and an article in Focus Taiwan, Mr. Williams and Mr. Macabitas have garnered significant positive attention among many Taipei residents. “People have seen us downtown and talked to us, which was a little [strange at first], but also nice that people are offering that sort of public support,” noted Mr. Williams.

Although Mr. Williams and Mr. Macabitas’ legal fight is nowhere near over yet, I can say with full confidence that the TAS community will continue to have unwavering faith in the couple’s journey. This incredibly admirable story of devotion and resilience reminds us to remain inquisitive about the systems that surround us, to persevere in spite of the obstacles we face and, most importantly, to always fight for love.