Thailand has become the first country in Southeast Asia and the third place in Asia to recognize same-sex marriage, as the landmark marriage equality bill was endorsed by the monarchy. The bill, approved by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, was officially written into law and will take effect in 120 days, allowing LGBTQ couples to register their marriages starting January 22. The new law amends the country’s Civil and Commercial Code to use gender-neutral words, granting married couples full legal, financial, and medical rights regardless of gender. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra celebrated the news with a post on social media using the hashtag #LoveWins.
Thailand is known for its tolerance and vibrant LGBTQ social scene, but passing the law was a struggle due to conservative social values. Taiwan was the first place in Asia to allow same-sex marriage in 2019, followed by Nepal last year. Taiwan also recently announced that Taiwanese Chinese couples are now legally able to register their cross-strait marriages on the island. Thailand’s move towards marriage equality is a significant step forward for LGBTQ rights in the region and reflects the changing attitudes towards same-sex relationships.
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