King of Thailand Legalizes Same Sex Marriage, Becoming the First Southeast Asian Country To Do So
News & Opinion| Politics
Same sex marriage is now legal in Thailand! Thailand is now the first country in Southeast Asia and the third country in Asia, after Nepal and Taiwan, where same sex couples can get married. The King of Thailand, Maha Vajiralonghorn, signed the landmark Marriage Equality Bill into law this past Tuesday.
"Congratulations on everyone's love. Thank you for the support from all sectors. It is a joint fight for everyone, said Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on X, closing out her post with a #LoveWins hashtag.
Thailand shares a reputation as a haven for the LGBTQ+ community. One notable example is the Thai society's inclusion of 'kathoey', popularly known in Western culture as "lady-boys." Kathoey is a cultural term that is used to describe transwomen and effeminate men. However, the word should not be equated directly as a synonym for "trans", but rather as a descriptor for those that fall in the genderqueer spectrum.
While Thailand, particularly its major cities, is known as a popular hub for LGBTQ+ life and culture, Thai society at large, including government and state agencies are traditionally conservative. Many members of the LGBTQ+ community report experiencing everyday discrimination. For over a decade, LGBTQ+ rights activists have undergone a long and arduous journey to bring gender equality to the political forefront.
"The law is a monumental step towards equal rights in Thailand," - Waaddao Chumaporn, a LGBTQ+ rights advocate. Chumaporn aims to organize a mass wedding for over a 1,000 LGBTQ+ couples in Bangkok on January, the day the law goes into effect.
The marriage equality legislation dictates marriage as a partnership between two individuals and updates references to "men", "women", "husbands", and "wives" to gender-neutral terms such as "spouse", "person", and "individual". Additionally, LGBTQ+ couples will be granted the same rights as heterosexual married couples in areas such as adoption, medical consent, taxes, property, and inheritance.
Prior to its passage into law, the Marriage Equality Bill enjoyed ample support from both lawmakers and the public, with the 150 seat Thai Senate approving the bill by a vote of 130 to 4, along with 18 abstentions. A government survey conducted last year showed that public support stood at 96.6%.
Following King Maha Vajiralongkorn's endorsement, the new law will take effect on January 22, 2025.
Since the Netherlands became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2001, a total of 38 countries, including Thailand, have done so as of 2024. It is undeniable that the passing of the Marriage Equality Bill is a historical Gaye achievement that will hopefully set a precedent for other countries around the world to follow.
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