Jubilation as Thailand’s marriage equality law comes into effect

Thailand has go the archetypal state successful Southeast Asia, and lone the 3rd successful Asia, to legalise same-sex marriage.

Hundreds of couples are tying the knot successful Thailand, arsenic the kingdom becomes the archetypal Southeast Asian federation to legalise same-sex marriage.

The Marriage Equality Act, which was overwhelmingly passed successful a historical parliamentary ballot past June, was ratified by King Maha Vajiralongkorn successful October and comes into effect connected Thursday.

Thailand’s matrimony instrumentality present uses gender-neutral presumption successful spot of “men”, “women”, “husbands” and “wives”. It besides grants the aforesaid adoption and inheritance rights to same-sex couples arsenic heterosexual couples for the archetypal time.

Same-sex couples tin present besides marque aesculapian decisions for sick oregon incapacitated partners, arsenic good arsenic widen idiosyncratic fiscal benefits, including authorities pensions, to their spouse.

Campaign radical Bangkok Pride and Bangkok metropolis authorities person organised a wide LGBTQ wedding successful the Thai capital, with astir 180 couples gathering astatine the Siam Paragon buying promenade from 8am to registry their unions.

Pisit Sirihirunchai, left, and Chanatip Sirihirunchai from the LGBTQ assemblage amusement their matrimony certificates aft the Marriage Equality Act took effect successful Bangkok connected Thursday [Sakchai Lalit/AP Photo]

“This time is important not conscionable for us, but for our kids arsenic well. Our household volition yet go one,” transgender pistillate Ariya “Jin” Milintanapa told the AFP quality agency.

Thailand, which ranks highly connected LGBTQ ineligible and surviving conditions indexes, present becomes the 3rd state successful Asia to legalise same-sex marriage, aft Taiwan and Nepal.

The law’s passing marks the culmination of astir a decennary of campaigning by LGBTQ groups to walk adjacent matrimony laws successful Thailand. The Netherlands was the archetypal state to let same-sex unions successful 2001, with much than 30 countries astir the satellite pursuing suit successful the years since.

During a celebratory photoshoot past week successful beforehand of the instrumentality coming into effect, Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra emphasised the request for sex individuality designation beyond biologic sex.

“Whether male, pistillate oregon non-binary, radical should person the close to place arsenic they wish,” she said.

“No substance your sex oregon who you love, emotion knows nary limits oregon expectations. Everyone volition beryllium protected nether the aforesaid laws.”

Despite sentiment polls suggesting overwhelming nationalist enactment for the move, overmuch of Buddhist-majority Thailand remains accepted and conservative.

Couples from the LGBTQ assemblage hold to motion their matrimony certificates arsenic the Marriage Equality Act takes effect successful Bangkok, Thailand, connected January 23, 2025 [Sakchai Lalit/AP Photo]

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Al Jazeera and quality agencies