Thailand's landmark marriage equality bill officially became law on Tuesday, allowing same-sex couples to legally marry.
The law, which has been approved by King Vajiralongkorn and will be published in the government gazette, will come into effect within 120 days. It will allow LGBTQ+ couples to register their marriages in January next year, making Thailand the third country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage after Taiwan and Nepal.
Thailand Senate approves historic bill to legalize same-sex marriage
The bill, which would grant full legal, financial and medical rights to married partners regardless of gender, passed the House of Representatives in April and the Senate in June.
“I celebrate your love,” Prime Minister Pathomtar Shinawatra wrote on X, adding the hashtag “#LoveWins.”
A participant holds a rainbow flag during the Pride Parade in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, June 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)
Thailand is known for its tolerance and inclusiveness but has struggled for decades to pass marriage equality laws. Thai society generally has conservative values and members of the LGBTQ+ community say they face discrimination in their daily lives.
Federal and state government agencies have also historically been conservative, and advocates of gender equality have had a hard time persuading lawmakers and civil servants to embrace change.
Bangkok's Deputy Governor Sanon Wangsramboon said last week that city authorities would be ready to register same-sex marriages once the law comes into force.
The law amended the country's Civil and Commercial Code, replacing gender-specific words such as “male, female” with gender-neutral words such as “individual.”
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The Pheu Thai-led government has made marriage equality one of its main goals and has made a major effort to highlight its identity at the annual Bangkok Pride Parade, which draws thousands of people in June in one of the city's busiest commercial districts.
Bangkok Pride organisers said on Facebook that they would organise wedding ceremonies for couples who want to register their marriage on the first day the law comes into effect.