Thailand is on the verge of making history as its lawmakers are poised to vote on the legalization of same-sex marriage, a decision that could establish the country as the first in Southeast Asia to recognize marriage equality. The upper house of the Senate is expected to give the green light to the legislation, with the final step being royal assent from King Maha Vajiralongkorn. Once approved, the law will come into effect 120 days after it is published in the official Royal Gazette.
If the bill is passed, it will represent a significant milestone, as Thailand would become the third territory in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, following in the footsteps of Taiwan and Nepal. The legislation will result in changes to the language used in marriage laws, replacing gender-specific terms such as “men”, “women”, “husbands”, and “wives” with gender-neutral language. Furthermore, same-sex couples will be granted the same rights as heterosexual couples in terms of adoption and inheritance.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, an outspoken advocate of the LGBTQ+ community and the bill, has announced plans to host a celebratory event at his official residence for activists and supporters after the vote. Additionally, a rally featuring a drag show is scheduled to take place in central Bangkok, where major shopping malls have been proudly displaying the rainbow flag in solidarity since the beginning of pride month in June.
Supporters of the bill are optimistic that the first same-sex weddings could take place as early as October. Activist Siritata Ninlapruek expressed confidence in the bill’s passage, stating, “I believe that parliament members will realize the importance of equal rights and the family institution. This topic is too big to fail.”
Thailand has earned a reputation for inclusivity and accommodation towards the LGBTQ+ community, and local media polls have indicated overwhelming public support for marriage equality. A participant in the Pride march in Bangkok, Chotika Hlengpeng, remarked, “I am so happy to see how far we have come.”
The upcoming vote is the culmination of years of advocacy and efforts to pass equal marriage laws. Despite having widespread support, traditional and conservative values still persist in Buddhist-majority Thailand. LGBTQ+ individuals, while highly visible, report encountering barriers and discrimination in their daily lives.
Some activists have voiced concerns that the new laws do not acknowledge transgender and non-binary people, who will still be prohibited from changing their gender on official identity documents.
As Thailand stands on the verge of achieving marriage equality, the world is watching the historic vote. If successful, it will mark a significant advancement for LGBTQ+ rights in the region.
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