An online poll released today has shown a significant surge in the number of people in Taiwan who back same-sex marriage.

Pollster Online Survey interviewed 1,660 respondents aged 13 and above on 30 October.

It came after a coalition of over 120 gay rights groups campaigned outside the Taiwanese parliament earlier in the month, as well as a Pride march which drew tens of thousands just a few days earlier.

The poll revealed that 22.4 per cent of respondents “strongly support” and 45.1 per cent “somewhat support” same-sex marriage.

In contrast, only 20.5 per cent “somewhat did not support” the legislation 12 per cent “strongly did not support” it.

Preliminary plans to legalise same-sex marriage are currently being addressed in the Taiwanese Parliament.

The equal marriage bill, proposed by Democratic Progressive Party lawmakers, has been stalled by the Parliament’s judiciary committee since October last year.

Last month, six same-sex couples in Taiwan had their marriages rejected after attempting to register en masse.