In a historic move for LGBTQ+ rights in Southeast Asia, Thailand's Senate approved a landmark marriage equality bill on Tuesday, June 18th, paving the way for the nation to become the first in the region to legalize same-sex marriage.
This bill is the culmination of over a decade of advocacy and effort by activists and politicians following previous bills that failed to pass through Thailand's parliament.
With the support of nearly all lawmakers in the upper house, with 130 senators voting in favor and only four opposing, the bill now awaits royal permission from the King of Thailand. However, this is primarily seen as a formality. The law will come into effect 120 days after it is published in the Royal Gazette.
Thailand is set to become the third country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, following Taiwan in 2019 and Nepal in 2023. LGBTQ+ advocates are hailing the move as a "major step forward," as Thailand is on track to become the first Southeast Asian nation to enact marriage equality legislation.
The new law replaces gender-specific terms such as "man," "woman," "husband," and "wife" with gender-neutral terms like "spouse" and "person." Same-sex couples will have equal rights in marriage, including rights in areas such as adoption, healthcare consent, and inheritance.
Plaifah Kyoka Shodladd, a member of the parliamentary committee on same-sex marriage, said: "We are very proud to have made history. Today, love has triumphed over prejudice... After more than 20 years of struggle, today we can say that this country has marriage equality."
Bangkok residents Pokpong Jitjaiyai and Watit Benjamonkolchai said they plan to get married as soon as the law is passed.
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Earlier in June, thousands of revelers and LGBTQ+ activists held a parade through the streets of Bangkok, joined by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who wore a rainbow shirt to mark Pride Month.
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