Thailand has become the first country in South East Asia to legalise same-sex marriage after the country’s king, Maha Vajiralongkorn, signed a marriage equality bill into law.
The bill, which will come into effect on January 22 next year, has been hailed by activists as historic for Thailand, which has long been seen as a relative haven for the LGBTQ+ communities.
The new law, which grants same-sex couples adoption and inheritance rights, uses gender-neutral terms in place of “husbands”, “wives”, “men” and “women”.
“Today we’re not only getting to write our names in marriage certificates, but we are also writing a page in history… that tells us that love never set a condition of who we were born to be,” Ann Chumaporn, a longtime LGBTQ+ activist who plans to organise a mass wedding for more than 1,000 LGBTQ+ couples on 22 January.
“It’s a triumph of equality and human dignity,” she added.
Thailand officially becomes the first Southeast Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage. The landmark law, to be in effect in January 2025, grants LGBTQ+ couples equal rights, including adoption and inheritance. This historic victory follows decades of advocacy by activists. pic.twitter.com/2OSw8anSyu
— PR Thai Government (@prdthailand) September 25, 2024
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra posted on X: “Congratulations on everyone’s love. #LoveWins.”
Former PM Srettha Thavisin, who has been vocal in his support for the bill, also applauded the development as a “significant step” for Thailand.
“Equity and equality have become concrete in the Thai society. Gender diversity will eventually be fully accepted. Congratulations,” he wrote on X.
When the law comes into effect, Thailand will become only the third place in Asia, after Taiwan and Nepal, where same-sex couples can get married.
