The flag of Taoyuan, Taiwan, is as beautiful as the picturesque setting where the wedding took place

Aug. 11, 2012, saw what many global rights activists hope to be a sign of good things to come in the struggle to legalize gay marriage. Huang Mei-yu and her partner You Ya-ting exchanged prayer beads in lieu of rings as they were married in traditional white wedding gowns in a Buddhist monastery in Taoyuan, within Guangyin Township of northern Taiwan, by a Buddhist wedding officiant. It was the first wedding of its kind in the country.

The 30-year-old lesbian couple had been dating for seven years before getting married, and had always maintained an open and honest relationship with their families regarding their sexual orientation. However, despite their wedding being witnessed by over 100 applauding guests and Buddhist nuns, both women’s parents were not in attendance. According to Huang, it was not because they disapproved. “Our parents originally agreed to come to our wedding, but they felt they were not prepared for the media exposure, so they decided not to come,” she explained to reporters after the ceremony.

Shi Chao-hui, the female Buddhist master who acted as the wedding officiant that day, stated that Buddhism doesn’t ideologically dismiss homosexuality and that the central pillars of any relationship are purity and selflessness. When questioned about whether Huang and You’s nuptials would encourage more gay people to get married, she said that it could but she personally hasn’t received any additional requests to perform a wedding for same-sex couples. She also added that it was in part because “courageous people like them are still quite few.”

Taiwan, however, is no stranger to gays or gay weddings. In August 2011, there was a mass “wedding party” publicly held for over 80 lesbian couples. Even though it was against the law, the group ceremony remained unobstructed by local police. Taiwan’s capital city of Taipei has been consistently voted among Asia’s top ten gay-friendly vacation destinations and currently holds Asia’s largest pride parade every year. Since 2003, legislation has been in the works that if passed would legalize same-sex marriage in Taiwan. However, due to low interest from government officials this piece of legislation, called the “Basic Human Rights Bill”, has stalled in momentum and currently remains pending.

Regardless of global or even nationwide acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) relationships and marriage, the folks at the Universal Life Church continue to openly support marriages based solely on love and not race, creed or sexual orientation. With a unique online following, members of the Universal Life Church can be ordained in a matter of minutes from the comfort their computer screens. Over 20 million people have already signed up to be ordained online.

As an ordained minister, priest, rabbi or pastor of the Universal Life Church members become a fully recognized wedding officiant and can legally perform a wedding for friends, family and the general public. The online ordination process is completely free and also allows gives members the legal status to perform baptisms and christenings as well as preside over funerals and burials.