Thailand's King has officially signed a landmark marriage equality bill into law, making the country the first in Southeast Asia to recognize same-sex unions.
The bill, which passed the Senate in June 2024, received the monarch’s approval and was published in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday, September 24. The law is set to take effect on January 22, 2025.
LGBTQ+ activists have celebrated this decision as a historic victory, the result of years of advocacy for marriage equality. The new legislation replaces traditional gender-specific terms like "husbands" and "wives" with gender-neutral language, granting same-sex couples full rights to adoption and inheritance.
“Today, we are not just signing marriage certificates but also making history. It shows that love knows no boundaries,” said Ann Chumaporn, a prominent LGBTQ+ activist and co-founder of the Bangkok Pride movement, speaking to the BBC. She also revealed plans for a mass wedding for over 1,000 LGBTQ+ couples on January 22.
Another activist, Siritata Ninlapruek, expressed excitement and relief, telling AFP, “We have fought for over a decade for these rights, and now it’s finally happening.”
Thailand’s Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, also celebrated the occasion, posting on X: "Congratulations to everyone on this victory for love. #LoveWins."
This groundbreaking law marks a significant step forward for LGBTQ+ rights in the region, offering equal legal recognition and protections to same-sex couples for the first time in Southeast Asia.
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