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Love Wins for All - Same Sex Marriage Law Takes Effect in Thailand

Celebrations are held across the country as the same-sex marriage law comes into effect. Thailand is enforcing the Marriage Equality Law, which was passed by the Thai Parliament and endorsed by the King last year.
Equal marriage in Thailand

Equal Marriage event at Thailand's government house

© Thai government

Thailand officially becomes the first Southeast Asian country, and the third country in Asia following Taiwan and Nepal in recognizing same-sex marriage as the long awaited Marriage Equality Act came into force on Thursday. A momentous step for Thailand towards a more inclusive and equal society.

Under the new law, gender-specific terms such as 'husband' and 'wife' have been dropped in favour of more gender-neutral terms such as 'individuals'. This allows all couples, regardless of their gender orientation, to access marriage recognition and benefits, including rights to adoption, medical care and inheritance.

To celebrate the occasion, the Thai government opened its doors to couples to register their marriage at its district offices across the country and at its embassies and consulates abroad. According to Bangkok Pride, the country's LGBTQ activist group, some 2,799 couples registered their marriages nationwide on 23 January.

"I am so glad that this is finally happening, I am brimming with tears of joy," said Rungthiwa "Nong" Tangkhanophas at a marriage registration event on Thursday. Nong has been living with Phalawee "Fai" Changtangsachatham for more than 20 years and they are raising a daughter together. Now they feel their family is more complete with legal recognition.  "Now society accepts us and finally embraces us.

"This is the beginning of Thai society's greater awareness of gender diversity and the affirmation that everyone is entitled to equal rights and dignity." Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said in her post on social media platform X. "Today the rainbow flag is flying proudly over Thailand".

 

* Takdanai Ketkaew is the program assistant and communications officer at the Thailand office of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in Bangkok, Thailand.

Thailand Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage

From next year, women can marry women and men can marry men in Thailand.

Thailand´s King Maha Vajiralongkorn has endorsed the Marriage Equality Bill. The new legislation comes into effect on January 22nd, making Thailand Southeast Asia’s first nation to adopt same-sex marriage.

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