Faroese wedding for Asian couple barred from marrying at home

A same-sex couple from China and Singapore traveled to the Faroe Islands to marry after being denied the right in their home countries, Faroese public broadcaster KVF reports.

Jing Hua and Muhan chose the North Atlantic archipelago for their wedding after Muhan visited last year and was so struck by its beauty that she decided it would be the place to marry her partner. “She thought the islands were so beautiful that this was where she wanted to marry Jing Hua,” the report states.

Same-sex marriage remains illegal in both China and Singapore, though attitudes differ. According to Jing Hua, Singaporeans are generally accepting of LGBTQ+ relationships, while China tolerates them but discourages public visibility. “They accept same-sex relationships, but they don’t think it should be visible in public spaces,” she said.

Though their Faroese marriage is not legally recognized in their home countries, the couple told KVF that formal recognition was secondary. “For us, it’s about love—that’s why we’re getting married. Everything else comes after.”