In a historic move, Thailand will become the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise same-sex marriage in January, marking a significant advancement for LGBTQ+ rights in the region.
Thailand to Legalise Same-Sex Marriage Starting January
Bangkok, Thailand — In a historic move, Thailand will legalise same-sex marriage beginning in January. The landmark law, approved by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, has been published in the official gazette, marking the final step in its journey to enactment. This legislation had already received overwhelming approval from both the House of Representatives and the Senate several months prior.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra celebrated the news by tweeting, “Love wins,” on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Shinawatra acknowledged the collective effort that led to this milestone, stating, “This was a collective struggle by all.” With this legalisation, Thailand becomes the first country in Southeast Asia to recognise same-sex marriage, joining Taiwan and Nepal as pioneers for LGBTQ+ rights in Asia. In comparison, Germany legalised same-sex marriage in 2017.
The new regulation, set to take effect in January, will revise existing legal terminology. Terms such as “men” and “women” and “husband” and “wife” will be replaced with gender-neutral terms like “persons” and “spouses.” This change ensures that non-heterosexual couples will receive the same rights concerning financial, medical, and other matters as their heterosexual counterparts.
Thailand has long been a favoured destination for queer tourists due to its liberal and open stance towards transgender and homosexual individuals. Despite its predominantly conservative values, the country is renowned for its inclusivity and acceptance within the LGBTQ+ community, making it a popular holiday spot globally. The civil partnership law previously in place did not offer the full spectrum of rights that heterosexual marriages enjoyed, but this new law promises to rectify that disparity.
This move by Thailand signifies a significant step forward in LGBTQ+ rights within the region and is poised to strengthen the country’s reputation as a progressive and inclusive society.
Source: Noah Wire Services