Given Thailand is rightly known for its kindness and respect towards the LGBTQ+ community, it may be a surprise to some that same-sex marriage was not legal…until now!
The country has made history as the first ASEAN country to legalise same-sex unions after King Maha Vajiralongkorn signed the new Marriage Act, published in the Royal Gazette on September 24.
Adopting gender-neutral language, the new act removes gendered terms like 'husband' and 'wife', replacing them with neutral terms that allow for same-sex couple registration. Additionally, same-sex couples will now enjoy the same adoption and inheritance rights as heterosexual couples.
Following standard Thai legal process, the law will come into effect in 120 days, meaning LGBTQ+ couples will be able to register their marriage begining January 2025 as the country officially joins Taiwan and Nepal as the only Asia countries to allow same-sex marriage.
Thai activists have been working hard to legalise same-sex marriage for decades. Generally, the people of Thailand have made clear their support for equal marriage, through voting, polls and campaigns. And while this new law is a big step in the right direction, there is still a long way to go for true equality, with many still facing significant challenges and discrimination in everyday life.
As couples across Thailand count down 120 days, watch out for mass wedding parties and keep your calendars free as couples celebrate their equal rights to marriage for the first time.