Bangkok, Thailand—

Thailand’s Senate will debate a bill to legalize same-sex marriage on Tuesday, as the country moves towards becoming the first Southeast Asian country to recognize marriage equality.

Thailand has long had an international reputation for being tolerant of the LGBTQ community, but activists have been battling conservative attitudes and values ​​for decades.

The law was easily approved by the lower house last week and now moves to the country’s unelected Senate, packed with conservative appointees from the previous military junta.

Senators will discuss the bill, which would change references to “male,” “female,” “husband” and “wife” in marriage laws to gender-neutral terms, before referring it to a committee for further consideration. Take your first vote.

The Senate cannot reject the bill but can send it back to the House for 180 days of further debate.

There will be two more votes in the Senate, with the next vote likely no earlier than July.

Paulie Nataya Paomephan, the winner of Miss Trans Thailand 2023, said that until recently, she never dreamed that transgender people would be able to legally marry in Thailand.

“I think it’s because politicians have to adapt to a changing world,” she told AFP, adding that she and her boyfriend of three years planned to get married if the law was passed.

“Proud of our pride”

After the House of Commons passed the bill with an overwhelming vote of 399 to 10, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said he was “proud of our pride”.

He wrote on social media platform

Across Asia, only Taiwan and Nepal recognize same-sex marriage. Last year, India’s top court deferred a decision to parliament, while Hong Kong’s top court stopped short of granting full marriage rights.

LGBTQ activists celebrated last Wednesday’s vote as an important milestone on the road to equality.

Inside parliament, the final vote was accompanied by cheers and applause, with one deputy waving a rainbow flag.

The Prime Minister has been an outspoken supporter of the LGBTQ community, making marriage equality a signature issue and telling reporters last year that the change would strengthen family structures.

Polls reported by local media showed overwhelming support for the law among Thais.

While Thailand is known for its tolerance, much of the Buddhist-majority country remains conservative, and LGBTQ people, while visible, still face barriers and discrimination.

Activists have been pushing for same-sex marriage rights for more than a decade, but the advocacy has made little headway in a kingdom where politics are regularly upended by coups and massive street protests.

Activist Ann Waaddao Chumaporn said she knew of dozens of LGBTQ couples preparing to tie the knot if the law was passed, and she hoped it would happen this year.

“Once the law is enforced, of course, it will change Thai society,” she told AFP.

“This will inspire other fights for other equality.”