Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriage today. After decades of campaigning by LGBTQ+ activists, it is the third country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, following Taiwan and Nepal, with the new legislation taking effect today.
Hundreds of couples are expected to receive their marriage certificates throughout the day at the 878 districts in Thailand and the 50 districts in Bangkok, with certificates starting to be issued from 08:00 (local time, 03:00 Greece time).
LGBTQ+ organizations hope that 1,448 marriages will take place today, a symbolic number referring to an article of Thailand’s Civil Code, where the amendment changed the words “man and woman” to “spouse.”
Organizations hope that 1,448 weddings will take place today, the same number as the amended Civil Code article.
The new law, approved by the country’s king in September, no longer specifies gender and grants same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples in matters of inheritance, property, and adoption.
Legal experts say the new law will help improve the integration of LGBTQ+ individuals in Thailand, although the legal definition of family has not changed: the country’s Civil Code still defines the family as consisting of a man as the father and a woman as the mother.
Homosexuality is illegal in half of Asia’s countries, with offenders facing lengthy prison sentences.
