“Victory for justice and human rights”: Thailand legalized same-sex marriage

Thailand’s Senate overwhelmingly approved a same-sex marriage bill yesterday (Tuesday), clearing the last legislative hurdle. Thailand is the first country in Southeast Asia to enact such a law.

Thailand has a reputation for acceptance and inclusion, but has struggled for decades to pass an equal marriage law. Thai society is conservative, and members of its gay community face discrimination in everyday life. The government and state authorities are also conservative, and equality supporters have had difficulty pressuring legislators and civil servants to promote changes.

After Taiwan and Nepal, Thailand is the third in Asia to allow same-sex marriage. The marriage equality bill, which grants full legal, financial and medical rights to spouses of any gender, was approved in the House of Representatives before the end of the previous session in April, with the support of 400 out of 415 voters.

The proposal was finally approved in the Senate with the support of 130 of the 152 voters. Four opposed and 18 abstained. The bill is still subject to King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s approval. After its official publication by the government, it will enter into force within 120 days. According to the proposal, wherever gendered words such as “men and women” are written in the law, they will be replaced by neutral words such as “individual”. One member of the Senate, retired General Warapong Sa-Ngant, argued that the gendered terms should still be included in the law alongside the neutral terms. According to him, their exclusion would be a “serious subversion of the institution of the family” in Thailand.

After the vote, Felipah Kyoka Shudal, an 18-year-old non-binary young man, thanked the supporters, calling her a “force of hope” that would help Thailand accept diversity. “Today, love prevailed over prejudices,” said Felipah.

The government celebrated the approval of the law. The ground in front of the main building was decorated with rainbow carpets, flags and a huge balloon in the shape of two hands forming a heart sign. The party was joined by politicians, celebrities, diplomats, activists from the gay community and their supporters, who went on a colorful parade from the parliament after the vote.

Prime Minister Sarata Tavisin, who was prevented from participating after falling ill with Corona, welcomed the approval of the law on the X network (formerly Twitter). “I am proud of the collective effort that highlights the strength of ‘unity in diversity’ of Thai society,” he tweeted. “We will continue our fight for social rights for all people regardless of their status.”

“The approval of the law is a victory for justice and human rights,” said Mukdafa Ngyuenferdorn from the human rights organization Fortify Rights. “The Thai government must now focus on ensuring its swift and effective implementation, in order to preserve LGBT rights. Marriage equality is fundamental to human dignity, and Thailand must protect these rights without delay.”

The government led by the Pau Thai Party, whose term began last year, has made marriage equality one of its main goals. It also made an impressive presence at the annual Bangkok Pride Parade, where thousands of people celebrated this month in one of the capital’s busiest commercial districts.