Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Nearly 2.000 same-sex couples were married in Thailand on Thursday (January 23) following the enactment of the country’s landmark Same-Sex Marriage Law.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra delivered a message via video to mark the occasion. “This marriage equality law signifies the beginning of a greater societal awareness in Thailand about gender diversity and our acceptance of all people, regardless of sexual orientation, race, or religion,” said Paetongtarn, as reported by CNN Indonesia.
The Thai Parliament raised rainbow flags on Thursday to celebrate the milestone, while shopping malls across the country organized large-scale Pride events to honor the implementation of the new legislation.
With this move, Thailand has become the largest country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, joining Taiwan and Nepal.
Gender-Neutral Legislation
The new marriage law adopts gender-neutral terminology, replacing words such as “man,” “woman,” “husband,” and “wife.” The legislation also enables transgender individuals to marry and grants all married couples equal rights in adoption and inheritance.
During the day, dozens of couples, dressed in traditional and contemporary wedding attire, flocked to a large hall in a Bangkok shopping mall for a mass wedding ceremony organized by Bangkok Pride in collaboration with the city government.
Officials assisted couples in completing marriage forms, a crucial administrative step before receiving official marriage certificates. Hundreds more couples were expected to register throughout the day.
According to AFP, Thailand’s Ministry of Interior reported that 1,754 same-sex couples were married on the first day the law came into effect, with over 800 district offices nationwide processing the registrations.
LGBTQ+ Rights in Southeast Asia
Thailand has long been recognized as one of the most LGBTQ-friendly countries in the world. Local surveys consistently show widespread public support for marriage equality.
The Same-Sex Marriage Law was approved by the Thai Parliament in June 2024, following the passage of the Marriage Equality Act on September 24, 2024. Thursday’s implementation of the law officially made Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia to recognize same-sex marriages.
A Message to the World
According to Kumparan, during a mass wedding event, former Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin took a swipe at former U.S. President Donald Trump, who once declared that there are only two genders.
“Recently, a leader of a certain country stated there are only two genders, but I believe we are more open-minded than that,” Srettha remarked.
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Since the Netherlands became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2001, over 30 countries have followed suit. Thailand’s move further solidifies its reputation as a leader in LGBTQ rights especially in Southeast Asia.
(Raidi/Agung)
