Thailand’s king approves historic bill allowing same-sex marriage

(AP) –– Thailand’s landmark marriage equality bill officially became law on Tuesday, allowing same-sex couples to legally marry.

The law was published in the Official Gazette after approval by King Maha Vajiralongkorn and will come into effect in 120 days. This means that LGBTQ+ couples will be able to register their marriage in January next year, making Thailand the third country in Asia, after Taiwan and Nepal, to allow same-sex marriage.

The bill, which grants full legal, financial and medical rights to spouses of either gender, passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate in April and June respectively.

“Congratulations to everyone for their love,” Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra wrote on X, adding the hashtag #LoveWins.

Thailand has a reputation for being an accepting and welcoming country, but it has struggled for decades to pass a marriage equality law. Thai society has largely conservative values ​​and members of the LGBTQ+ community say they face discrimination on a daily basis.

The government and state agencies are also historically conservative, and gender equality advocates had a hard time lobbying lawmakers and public officials to accept change.

Bangkok Deputy Governor Sanon Wangsrangboon said last week that city officials will be ready to register same-sex marriages as soon as the law is enacted.

The legislation amended the country’s Civil and Commercial Code to replace gender-specific words like “men and women” with gender-neutral words like “individual.”

The Pheu Thai-led government has made marriage equality a key goal and has made a strong push to identify itself with Bangkok’s annual Gay Pride parade, held in June and attended by thousands of people in one of Bangkok’s busiest shopping districts.

Bangkok Pride organisers announced on Facebook that they will organise a wedding for couples who wish to register their marriage on the first day the law comes into effect.