Same-sex marriage law passed in Thailand, first in Southeast Asia

Thailand’s king has signed into law a same-sex marriage law, the country’s official Royal Gazette announced on Tuesday, September 24. Thailand becomes the first country in Southeast Asia to recognize marriage equality and the third in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage after Taiwan and Nepal.

King Maha Vajiralongkorn gave royal assent to the new law, which was passed by parliament in June and will come into force in 120 days, meaning the first marriages are expected to take place in January 2025. The text of the law changes references to men, women, husbands or wives to gender-neutral terms, namely “individuals” And “marriage partners”It also grants same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples in matters of adoption and inheritance.

The king’s signing of the law, a formal act, marks the culmination of years of campaigning for legal recognition of same-sex marriage, and attempts to legalize it. Thailand has long enjoyed a reputation for tolerance toward LGBT people+and opinion polls published by the media show majority support among Thais for same-sex marriage.

However, much of the kingdom’s Buddhist-majority society remains committed to conservative values, and LGBT people+ say they still face obstacles and discrimination in their daily lives.