Civil society groups are hopeful that the Marriage Equality Bill will be announced in the Royal Gazette by October 2, with implementation beginning in January of the following year.
Waaddao Anne Chumaporn, founder of Bangkok Pride, said on Friday that the Senate approved the bill on June 18 this year, and it was subsequently submitted to His Majesty the King for endorsement by former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on July 4.
The bill needs royal approval and publication in the Royal Gazette within 90 days, leading activists to anticipate its announcement by October 2.
Waaddao Anne Chumaporn explained that once announced, the law would take effect roughly 120 days later, around early January next year.
She mentioned that, should the bill fail to receive royal endorsement within the allotted period—an unusual occurrence—it would be returned to parliament.
In such an instance, two-thirds of parliament would need to reaffirm the bill, allowing the prime minister to resubmit it for royal endorsement.
She noted that if royal endorsement is not granted within 30 days, the government has the authority under Section 146 of the charter to enforce the law, which would then come into effect after January 30, 2025. “We are eager to see this law enacted soon,” she remarked.
Waaddao Anne Chumaporn made these remarks during the “From Being Ready to Get Married to the Day We Equally Get Married” event held at the Bangkok Arts and Cultural Centre.
Vitit Muntarbhorn, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Cambodia, mentioned that with the enforcement of this bill, Thailand would join Taiwan and Nepal as the only Asian countries to legally recognize same-sex marriages.
“The Marriage Equality Bill will be one of the most gender-inclusive bills as it will amend around 60-70 sections in the Civil and Commercial Codes,” he said.
Vitit Muntarbhorn also serves as the first UN Independent Expert on Protection against Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.
He noted the necessity to revise around 50 other laws, including the Surrogacy Bill, Gender Recognition Bill, and various employment and welfare bills, to provide comprehensive legal protections for the LGBTQ+ community in Thailand.
“These laws are crucial as they include the rights that LGBTQ+ deserve as human beings. At the same time, many of these current bills are sexist and marginalize LGBTQ+ people,” he said.
He also pointed out that the business sector can play a significant role in fostering a gender-inclusive society even before such laws are established.
He praised the growing number of businesses that are demonstrating their support through inclusive workplace policies and benefits for LGBTQ+ employees and customers.
“Adopting an anti-discrimination mindset is crucial for fostering an inclusive society,” he added.
