Thailand’s landmark marriage equality bill was officially enacted into law on Tuesday, allowing same-sex couples to legally marry.
After receiving King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s endorsement, the law was documented in the Royal Gazette and will be enforced starting in 120 days.
This means that LGBTQ+ couples will have the opportunity to legally register their marriages starting in January next year, positioning Thailand as the third country in Asia, following Taiwan and Nepal, to legalize same-sex marriage.
The legislation, which ensures full legal, financial, and medical rights to marriage partners of any gender, received strong approval in both the House of Representatives and the Senate in April and June, respectively.
“Congratulations to everyone’s love,” Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed on X, accompanying the post with the hashtag #LoveWins.
Despite its reputation for acceptance and inclusivity, Thailand has faced significant challenges in passing a marriage equality law due to the conservative nature of its society, where LGBTQ+ individuals often encounter discrimination.
Historically conservative, the government and state agencies have faced substantial resistance from gender equality advocates urging lawmakers and civil servants to embrace change.
Last week, Bangkok Deputy Governor Sanon Wangsrangboon affirmed that city officials are prepared to start registering same-sex marriages as soon as the law is implemented.
The new legislation modifies the country’s Civil and Commercial Code by substituting gender-specific terms like “men and women” with gender-neutral terms such as “individual.”
Under the leadership of the Pheu Thai party, the government has prioritized marriage equality, aligning itself prominently with the annual Bangkok Pride parade in June, which saw massive celebrations in one of the city’s key commercial areas.
Bangkok Pride’s organizers revealed on Facebook their plans to host a wedding for couples eager to register on the first day the law is in effect.
