Thailand has taken a significant step toward achieving marriage equality with the lower house’s approval of a bill that recognizes same-sex marriage.
This legislation, which awaits the Senate’s nod and royal assent, positions Thailand to become the first country in Southeast Asia to acknowledge same-sex unions formally. This move is expected to solidify Thailand’s status as a relatively progressive nation for LGBTQ+ couples in a region where such openness is uncommon.
Danuphorn Punnakanta, an MP and head of the marriage equality committee in the lower house, emphasized that this law aims to restore rights to LGBTQ+ individuals, rather than grant new ones. The bill, supported overwhelmingly by 400 out of 415 lawmakers present, proposes to redefine marriage as a union between two people, irrespective of gender, granting same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples in areas like tax benefits, inheritance, medical consent, and child adoption. Despite this progress, the proposal to replace “fathers and mothers” with “parents” was not adopted.
Thailand, known for its LGBTQ+ friendly stance, supported by laws against gender identity and sexual orientation discrimination, has seen a long journey towards marriage equality, culminating in this legislative success. A recent government survey indicated overwhelming public support for the bill, with 96.6% approval.
The journey towards this moment has been long-awaited by many, including Phisit Sirihirunchai, a gay police officer who plans to marry his partner once the law is enacted. The passage of this bill marks a historic achievement for Thailand’s parliament in advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, according to Tunyawaj Kamolwongwat, a gay MP from the opposition Move Forward party.
The initiative gained momentum following last year’s election, with several parties, including Prime Minister Sretta Thavisin’s administration, backing same-sex marriage. After merging four proposed bills into a single piece of legislation, the lower house passed it, marking a step forward in the quest for equality. However, the parliament has yet to address gender identity change proposals.
This development places Thailand at the forefront of LGBTQ+ rights in Southeast Asia and contrasts with the mixed progress in other Asian countries, such as Taiwan, Nepal, India, Japan, and Singapore, each at different stages of recognizing or debating same-sex marriage rights.
