Thailand’s Senate overwhelmingly approves historic bill legalising marriage equality

Bangkok: Thailand’s Senate voted overwhelmingly to approve a marriage equality bill on Tuesday, making it the first marriage equality bill in Southeast Asia for the country. Southeast Asia The last legislative hurdle to become the first country to enact such a law in 2013 was cleared. The bill was finally passed with the approval of 130 out of 152 members of the Senate present, while 4 voted against it and 18 abstained. The bill has now been approved by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Vajiralongkorn The bill requires formal approval by the Confederation of Asian Nations, after which it will be published in the Government Gazette, setting a date for it to come into effect within 120 days. Thailand will become the third country in Asia to allow gay marriage, after Taiwan and Nepal.

The marriage equality bill, which grants full legal, financial and medical rights to marriage partners of either gender, passed the House of Representatives just before the conclusion of the last parliamentary session in April.The bill amends the Civil and Commercial Code to change the terms “man and woman” and “husband and wife” to “person” and “marriage partner”.Thailand has a reputation for acceptance and inclusiveness, but it has struggled for decades to pass a marriage equality law.Thai society has largely conservative values, and LGBTQ+ Community members say they face discrimination in everyday life. Government and state agencies are also historically conservative, and gender equality advocates have had difficulty forcing lawmakers and civil servants to accept change.