Thailand becomes first Southeast Asian country to legalize marriage equality

In a victory for LGBTQ+ rights, Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage.

The bill legalizing same-sex marriage was passed by Parliament earlier this year, and King Maha Vajiralongkorn made it law on Tuesday by providing Royal Assent. It will take effect in 120 days, with the first weddings being expected to take place in January.

Related:

Taiwan will now recognize same-sex marriages of Taiwanese-Chinese couples

The countries’ complex relationship will make living together harder for these couples.

Thailand is only the third nation in Asia, alongside Taiwan and Nepal, to recognize marriage equality.

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Siritata Ninlapruek, an LGBTQ+ activist, said, “We are all delighted and excited. We’ve been fighting for our rights for over ten years, and now it’s finally happening.”

The move means that marriage laws will no longer use terms like “husband” and “wife” and such terms have been replaced with inclusive, gender-neutral language such as “partner.” Same-sex couples now have the same legal rights as their heterosexual counterparts, such as adoption and inheritance rights.

“The law is a monumental step towards equal rights in Thailand,” Waaddao Chumaporn, an LGBTQ+ rights advocate, told AFP.

Chumaporn is planning a mass wedding for more than a thousand LGBTQ+ couples in Bangkok on the first day same-sex couples can be legally married, January 22.

While Thailand has a reputation for being more accepting of LGBTQ+ people compared to neighboring countries, same-sex marriage being legalized comes after years of political challenges. LGBTQ+ advocates, like Apiwat Apiwatsayree, have been waiting for this moment for over a decade.

“We’ve been waiting for a long time,” Apiwat, who plans to marry his partner of 17 years.

Human rights and LGBTQ+ organizations across the world celebrated the win. Amnesty International’s Thailand Researcher Chanatip Tatiyakaroonwong said, “Thailand has taken a historic step towards becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize marriage for LGBTI couples. This landmark moment is a reward for the tireless work of activists, civil society organizations and lawmakers who have fought for this victory.”

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin advanced the law, making marriage equality one of his primary issues.

“Another important step for Thailand. The same-sex marriage law passes. Equality is concrete here in Thailand,” Srettha posted on X.

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