Judicial Ruling and Case Significance

In October 2025, the Taichung District Court finalized a judgment regarding a matrimonial dispute between a same-sex couple. This case marks the first public precedent in the region since the 2019 legalization of same-sex unions where "infringement of spousal rights" resulted in a compensatory award due to infidelity. The court determined that the defendant's repeated misconduct during the marriage severely compromised the integrity of the marital bond.


Background and Nature of Misconduct

The plaintiff, identified as A-Qiang, and the defendant, A-Yong, legally registered their marriage in 2019. However, beginning in September 2022, A-Yong met a third party named A-De via the social application "Grindr," leading to at least 21 instances of intimacy over several months.

  1. Violation of Marital Residence: Of the 21 encounters, 14 took place within the home shared by the married couple.

  2. Aggravating Factors: According to court documents, A-Yong frequently brought the third party into the marital home, including instances where they engaged in private activities in a guest room while the plaintiff was present on the premises. Some incidents involved multi-person activities.


  3. Intentionality: Evidence showed that A-De became aware of A-Yong's married status via Instagram as early as November 2022 but continued the relationship regardless


Defense Arguments and Final Verdict

During the proceedings, A-Yong attempted to attribute his actions to "mental instability caused by substance use" and claimed communication logs were fabricated. These claims were rejected as they contradicted his prior written apologies. A-De argued he believed A-Yong was single, yet digital evidence confirmed his knowledge of the marriage.


The court reached the following verdict:

  1. Joint Liability: A-Yong and A-De are jointly liable for 150,000 TWD in damages.


  2. Individual Liability: A-Yong was ordered to pay an additional 200,000 TWD to the plaintiff.The total award of 350,000 TWD aligns with local judicial standards for emotional distress compensation in cases of spousal rights infringement.


Asian Editorial Department: Lu Junxiu