Tuesday, February 18th, 2025

Thailand becomes the first Southeast Asian country to legalize gay marriage


Hundreds of same-sex couples are tying the knot in Thailand on Thursday, as the country becomes the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize marriage equality, according to a CNN report.

According to Bangkok Pride, which partnered with local authorities to organize the event, more than 200 couples registered to get married at the Siam Paragon Shopping Centre.

The bill marks a major victory for the LGBTQ+ community, which has spent more than a decade advocating for equal marriage rights.

The law, approved by Thailand’s parliament and supported by the king in 2024, gives same-sex couples the ability to legally register their marriages, granting them full legal, financial and medical rights, as well as adoption and inheritance rights. .

Prime Minister Patongtarn Shinawatra said, “This marriage equality law marks the beginning of greater awareness of gender diversity in Thai society and embracing everyone regardless of sexual orientation, race or religion – our affirmation that everyone is equal. Deserves rights and respect.” In a recorded message played at a mass wedding in the capital Bangkok on Thursday, according to CNN.

Shinawatra described the legalization of gay marriage as a historic milestone for equality and inclusion. She celebrated the LGBTQIA+ community’s decades-long struggle for marriage equality, calling it a “collective achievement through the efforts of all.”

Sharing a post on X, she wrote, “23 January 2025 – Victory Day of Love! Over two decades of fighting to pass #MarriageEquality legislation, and two decades of confronting prejudices and societal values, have finally led us to this day. This victory is a collective achievement of the efforts of everyone, especially the LGBTQIA+ community, who led the movement to effect marriage equality. Today, the rainbow flag flies proudly over Thailand.

The post said, “This marriage equality law marks the beginning of greater awareness of gender diversity in Thai society and embracing everyone regardless of sexual orientation, race or religion – our affirmation that everyone deserves equal rights and Deserves respect.”

Notably, Thailand’s landmark Marriage Equality Bill was officially written into law on September 24, 2024, allowing same-sex couples to legally marry. The law was published in the Royal Gazette after King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s endorsement, CNN reports.



Share on:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *