The Prime Minister has been outspoken in his support of the LGBTQ community (Representative)
Bangkok, Thailand:
Thailand’s parliament overwhelmingly passed a same-sex marriage bill on Wednesday, paving the way for the country to become the first in Southeast Asia to recognize marriage equality.
While Thailand has a strong reputation among the international LGBTQ community, Thai activists have been battling conservative attitudes and values for decades.
The bill passed the House of Commons by a vote of 399 to 10, but must be approved by the Senate and assent by the King before becoming the law of the land.
“Thailand is finally accepted and recognized as the true ‘LGBTQI paradise’,” Chanya Rattanathada, 27, told AFP in the lobby outside the voting hall.
During the final vote, there were cheers and applause, and one delegate waved a rainbow flag.
“Today, society proved to us that they care about LGBT rights,” said Tunyawaj Kamolwongwat, a MP from the Progressive Party who has long promoted LGBTQ rights.
“Now we finally have the same rights as everyone else.”
The proposal would change references to “man”, “woman”, “husband” and “wife” in the country’s marriage laws to gender-neutral terms.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said he was “proud of our pride” after the bill was approved.
He wrote on social media site
In 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.
“Make everyone equal”
“This is a big step for our country and the first of its kind in Southeast Asia,” Mookdapa Yangyuenpradorn, a spokesman for the activist group Empowerment of Rights, told AFP.
Mukedapa said she hoped the later stages of the bill would move forward smoothly and bring her country “on par with international standards in terms of LGBT rights.”
The vote follows a decision taken by Sreeta’s cabinet last year, which approved a parliamentary debate.
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.
After the vote, Pheu Thai Party spokesman Danuphorn Punnakanta welcomed the decision of the House of Commons.
“Today, Thailand is one step ahead in terms of equality for all,” he said.
He described the law as a law for “all Thai people” and stressed that it would not infringe on the rights of opposite-sex couples but extend them to all relationships.
“It’s just a win-win situation.”
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.
In 2022, Thai lawmakers gave preliminary approval to two bills allowing same-sex marriage and two others to allow civil partnerships.
But the legislation was withdrawn when parliament was dissolved to pave the way for a general election held last year.
Outside parliament, 18-year-old Plaifah Kyoka Shodladd told AFP there was great excitement as the new law neared final approval.
But now, they say, “We’re happy.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
