Taiwan's parliament on Monday took a first step towards legalizing same sex marriage by passing the first draft of the controversial marriage equality bill, which now awaits final hurdle mid-next year when it will come for final review.

If the bill is passed, Taiwan would become the first Asian country to legalize the same sex or gay marriage.

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However, the self-ruled island nation is still evenly split over the emotive issue, sparking a nationwide debate across the country over the past few days. A recent survey showed that 45 percent of the country's population is in favor, while 43 percent are staunchly against same sex marriage.

Taiwan's polarization over the emotive issue was fully visible on Monday as thousands of supporters and protesters gathered outside the parliament. They carried banners and shouted slogans in a bid to convey their voices to the country's lawmakers, who were busy discussing the bill inside the parliament building.

The opponents of the bill were heard shouting in chorus "Stop the review. Open the door." Many of the protestors were seen wearing white T-shirt with bold slogans "Marriage and Family; People decide" written on them. Some demonstrators, reportedly from the opponent side, even tried to enter the parliament before they were stopped by Taiwanese police.        

Meanwhile, the supporters of the bill were also passionately supporting the cause. They were buoyed by the fact that a good number of lawmakers in the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) are backing the gay marriage bill.

Lawmaker Yu Mei-nu, member of the DPP, hailed Monday's decision as a symbol of island nation's "mature democracy."

Taiwan had made past attempts of legalizing the same-sex marriage under Kuomintang party's decade-long rule. However, lack of political consensus and continued protest from religious stalled government's efforts.    

TagsTaiwan, Taiwan Same Sex Marriage, gay marriage