A Possible Step Toward (Possible) Equality

**tomcat** · 27-03-2024, 07:03 AM

Bill to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage in Thailand Heads to Parliament

Bill is supported by most major parties, needs king approval
Thailand would be first in region to codify marriage equality

Srettha ThavisinPhotographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg

By Patpicha Tanakasempipat (Bloomberg)
March 27, 2024 at 4:00 AM GMT+7

A bill to legalize same-sex marriage could face a vote in Thailand’s parliament as early as Wednesday. If it passes, the country will be the first in Southeast Asia to establish marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples.

The House of Representatives will take up the legislation, technically an amendment to the Civil and Commercial Code, for second and third readings when it meets at 9 a.m. Lawmakers may vote later in the day.

The bill would legalize marriage for same-sex partners aged 18 and above, along with rights to inheritance, tax allowances and child adoption, among others. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s administration has made it a signature issue, and advocates say it would also burnish Thailand’s reputation as an LGBTQ-friendly tourist destination.

Taiwan and Nepal are the only places in Asia that currently recognize same-sex marriage, and recent efforts elsewhere in the region have had mixed results. Hong Kong has yet to comply with a 2023 court order to establish laws recognizing same-sex partnerships, and India’s Supreme Court refused to legalize same-sex marriage, saying it’s an issue for parliament to consider.

The Thai bill would change the composition of a marriage from “a man and a woman” to “two individuals,” and change the official legal status from “husband and wife” to “married couple.”

Thai laws have protected LGBTQ people from most kinds of discrimination since 2015, but attempts to formalize marriage rights have stalled. In 2021, the Constitutional Court upheld the law recognizing marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman. Last year, a bill to recognize same-sex civil partnerships failed to clear parliament ahead of elections.

Rights advocates have higher hopes for the bill pending now, noting that it has broad support from most of the major parties. If it passes, it will need to be approved by the Senate and endorsed by the King. Then it would be published in the Royal Gazette and take effect 120 days later.

LGBTQ+ couples take part in a symbolic mass wedding ceremony on Valentine’s Day in Bangkok on Feb. 14.Photographer: Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images

Srettha’s government has also promised to work on a bill to recognize gender identity, and the health ministry has also proposed legalizing commercial surrogacy to allow LGBTQ couples to adopt children. Thailand is seeking to host the WorldPride events in Bangkok in 2028.

Legalizing same-sex marriage could have positive effects on tourism, which contributes about 12% to the nation’s $500 billion economy. In 2019, before the pandemic froze international tourism, LGBTQ travel and tourism to Thailand generated about $6.5 billion, or 1.2% of gross domestic product, according to industry consultant LGBT Capital.

Formal recognition could boost the reputation of a place already considered one of Asia’s best for LGBTQ visitors, said Wittaya Luangsasipong, managing director of Siam Pride, an LGBTQ-friendly travel agency in Bangkok.

“It will become a selling point for Thailand and raise our strength in the global stage,” Wittaya said. “It will create a relaxed and safe atmosphere for tourism and help attract more and more LGBTQ visitors. We could also see more weddings by LGBTQ couples, which could generate income across industries and local communities.”

**misskit** · 28-03-2024, 05:47 AM

Same-sex marriage bill easily passes its final reading in House

Thailand’s Lower House approved the final reading of the landmark marriage equality bill today, making Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia, and the third country in Asia, to recognise same-sex marriage, once it passes the Senate.

The bill, which seeks to amend the Civil and Commercial Code, was approved by 400 votes to 10, with two abstentions and three MPs who decided not to vote.

Danuporn Punnakan, Pheu Thai list MP and chair of the House scrutiny committee, told parliament that the bill is meant for all Thais, irrespective of gender.

Under the bill, same-sex couples who want to get engaged or married must be at least 18 years old, to protect minors from being forced into marriage, which is in line with the convention on the protection of the rights of children, said Danuporn.

He also said that the House scrutiny committee had added one provision to the bill, specifying the rights, duties and legal status of same-sex couples in the creation of a family.

He assured that the existing rights of men and women in general will not be affected by this bill, but it will protect a certain group of people, classified as LGBTQ.

He said that a minority of the House scrutiny committee had proposed a new wording, “first parents”, to be added to the bill, but this was rejected by the majority of the committee on the grounds that the wording is new and there is no legal definition yet.

The Pheu Thai MP said that it is now widely recognised that there are more than the male and female genders in societies, as some people who were born as a boy or a girl want to choose their own gender when they grow up.

The bill does not give them any additional rights, but restores their basic rights, said Danuporn, adding that the bill will mark the beginning of the creation of equality in Thai society.

The bill has to be approved by the Senate before it becomes law. In Asia, Taiwan and Nepal already have the same laws.

Same-sex marriage bill easily passes its final reading in House | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world

**Edmond** · 28-03-2024, 11:22 AM

Good enough for the Daily Queer... I mean Daily Cheer thread.

If Ireland could have a young gay Indian as leader, Thailand can have gay marriage.

**Topper** · 28-03-2024, 09:18 PM

Best of luck for you and yours Tom!!!!!!!!!!!!

**taxexile** · 28-03-2024, 10:02 PM

by not aggressively demanding rights, diversity, inclusion and respect thai poofterdom has quietly and with dignity managed to achieve their deserved equality.

less is always more and is a lesson for the loud shouty in your face poofter/trans communities worldwide wondering why they meet with so much resistance.

**tomcat** · 28-03-2024, 10:46 PM

Originally Posted by Topper

Best of luck for you and yours Tom!!!!!!!!!!!!

...thanks, Topper: a long time coming...

**tomcat** · 28-03-2024, 10:54 PM

Originally Posted by taxexile

by not aggressively demanding rights, diversity, inclusion and respect thai poofterdom has quietly and with dignity managed to achieve their deserved equality.

...nonsense: local politicians are acknowledging the benefits of gay tourist spending...I doubt there's any sudden awareness of human rights whether presented in softly whispered suggestions or with cymbals clashing in their ears...

**taxexile** · 28-03-2024, 11:39 PM

nothing at all to do with tourism, although i suspect that there will be a lot of farang poofs up in chiang mai marrying their thai nancy boys now and applying for marriage visas. should be some amusing scenarios down the immigration office in the coming years.

marriage equality is the right for a couple to be able to sign health care consent forms, to be able to adopt, access inheritance and spousal benefits like tax deductions, have joint property rights, and bring up children in the knowledge that their rights are secured in law.

in public thais have always been accepting of the lgbt lot, much less so in law and the government have now acknowledged that fact, and i suspect that is down partly to their dignified behaviour compared to the western branches of the association.

i am not including the repulsive behaviour of the transvestite prostitutes that infect tourist areas.

**Norton** · 29-03-2024, 04:14 AM

Originally Posted by tomcat

...nonsense: local politicians are acknowledging the benefits of gay tourist spending...I doubt there's any sudden awareness of human rights whether presented in softly whispered suggestions or with cymbals clashing in their ears...

Gay and lesbian relationships abound here. Given Buddism has no issues with it, no surprise a same sex marriage bill would pass unanimously in return for a huge number of votes for PT in future elections.

Farang/Thai same sex partnerships represent a very small portion of the gay community so doubt the PT gave it much thought in passing this bill.

Thread: A Possible Step Toward (Possible) Equality

Thread Tools

Display

A Possible Step Toward (Possible) Equality

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

Posting Permissions