Thailand Moves Closer to Legalising Same-Sex Marriage; Parliament Passes Bill

Bangkok: In a historic move, Thailand’s lower house of parliament has passed a marriage equality bill at its final reading, bringing the country one step closer to legalizing same-sex unions. The bill, which now awaits approval from the Senate and endorsement from the king, garnered support from all major parties and was passed overwhelmingly, with 400 out of 415 lawmakers present voting in favour.

Danuphorn Punnakanta, chairman of the parliamentary committee on the draft bill, emphasized the importance of reducing societal disparities and fostering equality for all Thai people. The passage of this bill signifies a significant progression for Thailand, solidifying its reputation as one of Asia’s most progressive societies concerning LGBTQ+ issues, juxtaposing openness with traditional Buddhist values.

Thailand, known for its vibrant LGBT social scene and targeted campaigns to attract LGBT travellers, could see the bill take effect within 120 days of royal approval, making it the third territory in Asia to legalize same-sex unions, following Taiwan and Nepal. Despite over a decade of deliberation and political turbulence, the bill’s passage underscores a significant milestone in Thailand’s legislative landscape, aligning with recommendations from the Constitutional Court to expand marriage laws to recognize all genders.

In December, Parliament approved four different draft bills on same-sex marriage, consolidating them into a single draft for further consideration.