Marriage Equality in Thailand: Another Step Closer
On Thursday, December 21, lawmakers made a historic move forward in the battle for marriage equality in Thailand. Four draft bills regarding same-sex marriage were passed by legislators on their first reading, positioning the country one step closer to achieving legal rights for the nation’s queer community.
Social attitudes within Thailand have been rapidly evolving for some time now, with many residents of the Asian nation campaigning for legislative change. Until very recently though, those in charge of governance have not shared the same sentiments. As recently as 2021, the courts in Thailand upheld the notion that marriage will remain between one man and one woman only.
However, Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said that a government survey conducted between October 31, 2023, and November 14, 2023, yielded a 96.6% public support for the draft bill.
Then on Thursday, 369 out of 380 lawmakers present in the lower house of parliament voted to approve the draft legislation that will legally recognize marriage equality in Thailand. The successful vote now means that a committee will be formed to merge all four bills into one, to be re-presented next year for further voting.
When speaking on marriage equality in Thailand, Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsuthin told parliament, “In principle, this draft law is for the amendment of some provisions in the civic codes to open the way for lovers, regardless of their gender, to engage and get married.”
“This will provide rights, responsibilities, and family status as equal to the marriage between a man and a woman presently in all aspects.”
Despite their legal system not lining up with public support for the LGBTQ community, Thailand has one of the most visible queer communities in all of Asia. They are widely known for their advocacy, have a bustling film and television industry dedicated to telling queer stories, which has gained incredible attention around the globe.
If the legislation is enacted and receives the necessary royal ascent, Thailand will be the third country in Asia to legally recognize same-sex marriage. At the moment, only Taiwan and Nepal currently do this.
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Featured image: PPTV 2022.
