Thailand Becomes Third Asian Nation to Recognize Marriage Equality

June 22, 2024
HANK ORSO

Well, guys, it looks like you can plan that trip to Thailand and travel even more safely with your love on your arm. On Tuesday Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to legalize marriage equality. This makes it only the third Asian country to do so, after Taiwan and Nepal. Maybe yer boy Hank here needs to plan a trip! I do love the food.

Thailand is set to become the first Southeast Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage. pic.twitter.com/SR0LzCXtKn
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) June 18, 2024

As reported by CNN, the country's Senate overwhelmingly approved the measure with 130 members voting in favor and only 4 opposed. It still needs official recognition from the king but as reported, this is generally a formality. The law will take effect a few months after it's officially published.

“The bill represents a monumental step forward for LGBTQ+ rights in Thailand. The potential impact of this bill is immense. It would not only change the lives of countless couples but also contribute to a more just and equitable society for all.” (Panyaphon Phiphatkhunarnon, founder of Love Foundation as told to CNN.)

‍⬛: I promise I’ll be fighting until you can get married in this country
: We have rights and freedom to love and be ourselves without any restriction
Thailand finally legalized same sex marriage!!!️‍ Congratulations pic.twitter.com/kmaiAXpFXG
— ⱽ (@bvtterflyxv) March 27, 2024

You don't need to understand the language to read the joy!

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The fight for equality has had its ups and downs in Thailand over the past few years, with measures brought up and stalling. But recent elections and parties vowed to push equality as a major initiative, with their Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin putting the full weight of his party behind it. “It is a basic right to choose who to love,” CNN reports that he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. His support wasn't just in words, but in deed, donning a rainbow shirt and marching and celebrating Pride with other revelers in the city of Bangkok. And his goals are far-reaching: “We look forward to hosting of the World Pride in 2030 in Thailand.” (sic)

Today we celebrate another significant milestone in the journey of our Equal Marriage Bill. I am proud of the collective effort of all stakeholders which reiterates the power of “unity in diversity” of the Thai society. We will continue our fight for social rights for all people… pic.twitter.com/QPtUqBNXyc
— Srettha Thavisin (@Thavisin) June 18, 2024

Through much of Asia, though, life for members of the LGBTQ+ community is still under the weight of repressive conservative and colonial strictures and laws. Rising religious intolerance in areas like Myanmar, Brunei and Indonesia have made homosexuality a crime. In the Muslim-dominant country of Malaysia it is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Singapore repealed a law against sex between two men but the government is still staunchly anti-gay and anti-marriage equality. And Japan is the only G7 country that has not legalized gay marriage, despite recent court decisions stating the unconstitutionality of such a condition. Last Fall, India's top court struck down a bill seeking marriage equality, and do we even have to mention the authoritarian measures under Xi Jinping?

So Thailand it is!

Check out some of the Bangkok Pride excitement: