Thailand’s parliament passed a law allowing gay marriage, which would make Thailand the third country in Asia to legalize unions between LGTBIQ+ people.
This law was passed in its third and final reading with 399 votes in favor, 10 against and two abstentions in the House of Commons.
Some of the MPs carried flags and medals in the colors of the LGTBIQ+ flag and celebrated the approval with applause and hugs.
The changes include renaming a marriage from “one man and one woman” to “two people” and changing the legal status of “husband and wife” to a genderless “married couple.”
In addition, LGTBIQ+ unions are guaranteed the same rights as heterosexual couples.
“I consider this success to be part of the consensus of Thai society. Work together to create a society of equality and not discrimination. In particular, gender and family education are fundamental human rights that the state must guarantee,” Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on social media.
The president promised to promote LGTBI laws during his campaign in the May 2023 elections, even though these laws generate an unusual consensus among all parties in the country.
“Together we are moving towards a society of equality and respect for diversity,” emphasized Srettha, who wants to advance Bangkok’s candidacy to organize the capital of World LGTBI Pride in 2028.
Photo: AFP
Thailand may be the first country in Southeast Asia to approve gay marriage
After this approval, which was debated in Parliament on December 21st, the support of the Senate and its publication in the official state bulletin are still missing.
Although the LGTBQ community is highly visible in Thailand, the Buddhist-majority country is still governed by conservative laws that discriminate against gay couples and transgender people.
Something that could change very soon. It is expected to come into force at the end of the year. If so, Thailand would be the third Asian country to allow equal marriage, after Taiwan and Nepal, and the first in Southeast Asia.
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