Thailand to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage, a Southeast Asian First

On June 18 2024, a historic moment unfolded in Thailand's Senate as it approved a landmark bill that extends marriage rights to same-sex couples, positioning the nation to become Southeast Asia's pioneer in legalizing same-sex marriage.

The bill, which had cleared the House of Representatives earlier, now moves to the Constitutional Court for review before requiring royal approval to become law.

In a decisive 130-4 vote, with 18 abstentions, the Senate has set in motion a change that will allow couples to marry 120 days after the law is published in the Royal Gazette. This groundbreaking legislation revises Thailand's civil and commercial code, replacing gender-specific terms like "husband" and "wife" with "spouse," and extending welfare, pension, and tax benefits to all spouses.

The law also includes exemptions for religious groups like Christianity and Islam, which may choose not to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies.

Sirisak Chaited, a leading figure in Thailand's marriage equality movement, highlighted the significance of the bill in upholding basic human rights for the LGBTQ community.

"In the past, the rights of LGBT people have been violated. By guaranteeing this right for all people, no one will be disadvantaged," Chaited stated.

The bill's passage comes as Thailand seeks to join the U.N. Human Rights Council, despite facing scrutiny over its political and human rights records.

The bill, a collaboration between the ruling Pheu Thai Party, the opposition Move Forward Party, and civil society groups, fulfills a key election promise. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, celebrating the victory, expressed hopes for Thailand to host World Pride by 2030. "We are proud to be a Pride Friendly Destination," he wrote.

Public support for marriage equality in Thailand is overwhelming, with over 80% approval in recent polls. This marks a significant triumph for the LGBTQ community, which has long battled for recognition amidst social and religious opposition. The bill's fate had been uncertain until a special session of the largely conservative Senate was convened, overcoming several attempts to pass less comprehensive civil partnership bills.

As the vote results were announced, couples outside the Senate chamber, many waving rainbow flags, were overcome with emotion. Among them were Kwanporn Kongpetch and Ploynaplus Chirasukon, together for 16 years and now looking forward to marrying.

"If we have a marriage license, we can put the parts of our lives together,"

Kwanporn said, reflecting on the practical and emotional benefits of legal recognition.

Tunyawaj Kamolwongwat, a gay rights activist and Move Forward MP who introduced the first marriage equality bill four years ago, dedicated the victory to LGBTQ individuals who suffered from societal rejection. "We’ll have a celebration, but I need to take a moment to look at the sky, pray, and remember how sad we were before," he remarked.

In the face of ongoing political turmoil, the passage of the marriage equality bill is a beacon of progress and a cause for celebration for Thailand's LGBTQ community and its allies.

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Refrence: https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/06/18/asia/thailand-same-sex-marriage-intl-hnk