The King of Thailand just approved and signed same-sex marriage into their law, as their official Royal Gazette announced yesterday. They are the first Southeast Asian country to legalize the union of same-sex couples.
The law, passed by Thailand’s parliament in June, was given royal assent by King Maha Vajiralongkorn. It will be effective in 120 days, and weddings are expected to begin in January.
Overall, only three countries in Asia support same-sex marriages, including Taiwan and Nepal. Additionally, the country is known for its rich LGBT culture and tolerance. It is also a popular tourist destination.
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The legalization of same-sex marriage in Thailand moved numerous members of the community and activists. Waaddao Chumaporn, an advocate, said, “The law is a monumental step towards equal rights in Thailand.”
She added, “We are all delighted and excited. We’ve been fighting for our rights for over ten years, and now it’s finally happening.”
Despite being a very tolerant country for the LGBTQ community, members say that there are still hurdles to face. Since the country is majorly Buddhist and conservatism, they say that they’ll still experience discrimination daily.
Last Friday, Thailand’s LGBT community hosted a drag party to celebrate the law’s coming into effect. One of the attendees was Apiwat Apiwatsayree and Sappanyoo Panatkool, a couple who have been together for seventeen years.
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Apiwat said, “We’ve been waiting for a long time. As soon as it becomes law, we will go register our marriage.”
Former prime minister Srettha Thavisin was very supportive of the bill and expressed his support to the community. He said that this would help strengthen family structures in Thailand. On his X (formerly Twitter) account he posted, “Another important step for Thai society, the marriage equality law has been passed. Equality and equality are tangible in Thai society. Gender diversity will finally be fully accepted. Congratulations.”
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