Thailand has become the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise same-sex unions, following King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s royal approval of a landmark marriage equality bill.
The bill, which cleared the Senate in June 2023, was published in the Royal Gazette on 26 September 2023 and will take effect on 22 January 2024.
The new law is a significant milestone for LGBTQ+ rights in Thailand, marking the culmination of years of campaigning by activists.
It recognises same-sex unions and replaces traditional gendered terms like “husbands,” “wives,” “men,” and “women” with gender-neutral language. Under this legislation, same-sex couples will have the same legal rights as their heterosexual counterparts, including adoption and inheritance rights.
Ann Chumaporn, a prominent LGBTQ+ activist and co-founder of the Bangkok Pride movement, hailed the legislation as a historic moment.
Speaking to the BBC, she said, “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.” Chumaporn plans to organise a mass wedding for over 1,000 LGBTQ+ couples on the day the law takes effect.
Advertising strategist Kwankaow Koosakulnirund, another advocate of the law, noted that legal recognition would provide the LGBTQ+ community with a greater sense of acceptance and security. “Thailand’s LGBTQ+ community can now look toward a future beyond relationships, embracing the sense of pride that this law brings,” Koosakulnirund remarked.
Former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, a vocal supporter of the bill, applauded the development as a “significant step” for the country. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he stated, “Another important step for Thai society: the marriage equality law has passed. Equity and equality have become concrete in Thai society. Gender diversity will finally be fully accepted. Congratulations.”
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, shared Srettha’s post and added the hashtag “#LoveWins,” amplifying the celebration of this historic victory for LGBTQ+ rights.
#LoveWins ❤️ https://t.co/TcCu4lFDfn
— Ing Shin (@ingshin) September 24, 2024
Thailand has long been considered a relative safe haven for the LGBTQ+ community within Southeast Asia, where conservative attitudes towards gender and sexuality remain prevalent.
However, despite social acceptance, legal recognition had been limited until this recent legislation. LGBTQ+ activists in Thailand have been fighting for marriage equality for more than a decade, and this legal victory is seen as a major step forward for human rights in the region.
Thailand is now the third place in Asia to legalise same-sex unions, joining Taiwan and Nepal. Taiwan became the first Asian nation to legalise same-sex marriage in 2019, while Nepal registered its first same-sex union in November 2022 after a Supreme Court ruling.
In contrast, India’s Supreme Court recently ruled against same-sex marriage in 2023, leaving the decision to the government, which has formed a panel to consider expanding legal rights for same-sex couples.
In addition to these developments, other Asian countries have seen mixed progress. Singapore decriminalised same-sex relations by scrapping a colonial-era law banning gay sex in 2022.
However, the country also amended its constitution to prevent challenges to the legal definition of marriage as being exclusively between a man and a woman.
The passing of Thailand’s marriage equality bill represents a key moment for Southeast Asia, which has historically been slow to embrace LGBTQ+ rights.
Activists are optimistic that the law will pave the way for further progress in the region, where many countries still do not offer legal protections or recognition for same-sex relationships.
The new law is not only a triumph for Thailand’s LGBTQ+ community but is also being celebrated as a significant leap towards equality and inclusivity in Asia.
