Thailand Becomes First Southeast Asian Country To Legalise Same-Sex Marriage (image-X/Marchforward)
In a historic win for the LGBTQ+ community, Thailand’s Senate passed the marriage equality bill, paving the way for the kingdom to become the first country in southeast Asia to legalise same-sex marriage.
The law now requires the royal endorsement of the king, following which it will come into effect 120 days after it is published in the royal gazette. The king’s endorsement is considered a formality.
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With 130 senators voting in favour, only four members opposing, and 18 abstaining, the bill was passed in the upper house with a huge majority.
The bill was passed by the lower house with an overwhelming majority of 400 out of 415 votes on March 27. According to the bill, marriage is described as a partnership between two individuals rather than between a man and a woman. The law also includes using gender-neutral terms, removing references to “women,” “men,” “wives,” “husbands,” and other terms to gender-specific roles.
Additionally, the bill grants LGBTQ+ couples legal rights related to inheritance, health care consent, and adoption. The rights under the law will also apply to trans people, although legally, they will be recognised according to their sex assigned at birth. Activists are working towards a gender recognition law in the country to change that.
After over two decades of struggle from both activists and politicians, and previous drafts of the bill not reaching parliament, this win is considered to be huge for the country. LGBT advocates described the move as a “monumental step forward.”
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Plaifah Kyoka Shodladd, a member of the parliamentary committee on same-sex marriage, stated, “Today love triumphed prejudice… after fighting for more than 20 years, today we can say that this country has marriage equality.”
“The potential impact of this bill is immense. It would not only change the lives of countless couples but also contribute to a more just and equitable society for all,” said Panyaphon Phiphatkhunarnon, founder of the Love Foundation, as quoted by CNN.
Rainbow flags flooded outside the country’s parliament as hundreds of civilians, lawmakers, and activists celebrated the decision.
Thailand is considered to be one of South Asia’s safest LGBTQ havens. Taiwan became the first country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage in 2019. Last year, Nepal followed suit by registering its first same-sex couple in November.
Although India provides limited legal recognition to same-sex couples in live-in relationships, the Supreme Court refused to recognise same-sex marriages. In a similar vein, Singapore scrapped a law banning gay sex in 2022 but also amended its constitution to ensure that marriage meant a union between a man and a woman.
