The lower house of Parliament in Thailand approved a marriage equality bill on Wednesday, with overwhelming support from lawmakers. This bill would make Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize equal rights for marriage partners of any gender. Despite having a reputation for acceptance and inclusivity, Thai society is largely conservative, and the LGBTQ+ community faces discrimination in everyday life. The government and state agencies have historically been conservative, making it difficult for advocates for gender equality to bring about change.
The bill will now move to the Senate, where it is expected to pass, and then to the king for royal endorsement. Once approved, Thailand will become the first country or region in Southeast Asia to pass such a law, following in the footsteps of Taiwan and Nepal in Asia. The bill seeks to amend the Civil and Commercial Code to replace terms like “men and women” and “husband and wife” with more inclusive terms like “individuals” and “marriage partners.” This change would grant LGBTQ+ couples access to full legal, financial, and medical rights.
Danuphorn Punnakanta, a spokesperson for the Pheu Thai party and head of the committee overseeing the marriage equality bill, emphasized that the amendment aims to provide fundamental rights to everyone in Thailand, regardless of their gender. He assured that the rights of heterosexual couples will not be affected by this change. The government has made marriage equality one of its main goals, with the new Pheu Thai-led administration being proactive in pushing for this change. Mookdapa Yangyuenpradorn from Fortify Rights called the approval of the bill a historic moment for Thailand and the LGBTQ+ community.
While celebrating this milestone, some activists have expressed concerns about the omission of the word “parent” in addition to “father and mother” in the law. They argue that this exclusion could limit the parental rights of LGBTQ+ couples. Despite this setback, the overall approval of the bill is seen as a significant step towards equality and inclusivity in Thailand. The country’s progress in passing this legislation reflects a positive shift towards embracing diversity and recognizing the rights of all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
