On Sunday, feminist, LGBTQ+ and pro-democracy groups gathered in Bangkok to hold exhibitions for a joint campaign on equal rights for all genders.
Organizers of the event, held at the Ratchaprasong intersection in Bangkok, urged attendees to support their call to amend the Civil and Commercial Code’s Section 1448 relating to marriage.
Thai laws state that marriage is between a man and a woman aged at least 17 years. However, LBTQ+ groups have demanded the government to legalize and recognize same-sex marriage.
The exhibitions took place after the Constitutional Court ruled that heterosexual marriage claims were not unconstitutional. But the court recommended that relevant agencies revise the law to ensure equal marriage rights for all genders.
Representatives from the Move Forward, Pheu Thai, Chart Thai Pattana and Thai Sang Thai parties joined the event and took the stage to offer moral support to the organizing groups.
Move Forward party-list MP Natheepat Kulasethasit said party members had tried to push through amendments to the law through the House committee, but their proposals failed due to lack of support.
Also, Chart Thai Pattana’s deputy secretary-general Udomsak Srisuthiva stated that the party was willing to listen to the groups’ views, considering the party’s strategy and policy committee opinions, for submission to parliament.
Pro-democracy, feminist and LGBTQ+ groups placed a large rainbow flag symbolizing the LGBTQ+ community on the street in front of the CentralWorld mall. No incidents were reported, and the event did not block traffic, as attendees only occupied one road lane and police officers were deployed to maintain order.
