Thailand on Thursday will make history as the first Southeast Asian nation to legalize same-sex marriage, with hundreds of couples set to exchange vows in celebrations across the country.
The groundbreaking law is a significant victory for the LGBTQ+ community, who have fought for over a decade for equal marriage rights.
“This could be a model for the world because we now have Thailand as a model. There is true marriage equality in Thailand,” said Kittinun Daramadhaj, a lawyer and president of the Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand, who has been a prominent advocate for marriage equality.
The legislation, passed by parliament and sanctioned by the king in 2024, grants same-sex couples the ability to register marriages with full legal rights, including financial and medical benefits, adoption, and inheritance rights.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra celebrated this milestone at an event last week, hosting LGBTQ+ couples and activists at government offices.
“This demonstrates that Thailand is ready to embrace diversity and accept love in all its forms. Today shows that our country is open and accepting,” she remarked.
Festivities are planned nationwide, from the vibrant streets of Pattaya to Chiang Mai’s mountainous regions.
In central Bangkok, around 200 couples have signed up to exchange vows at a mass wedding organized at a shopping mall by Bangkok Pride and local authorities.
Bangkok’s streets will be adorned with rainbow flags, and a “pride carpet” will welcome newlyweds, alongside performances by drag queens and local celebrities.
For individuals like Nina Chetniphat Chuadkhunthod, a transgender woman, this day is the fulfillment of a long-held dream.
Nina has been unable to marry her boyfriend of 22 years due to the inability to legally change her gender. However, the new law allows her to formalize their union.
“I feel like, wow, my dream is close to coming true,” said the 42-year-old.
Nina and her fiancé already celebrated with a wedding party three weeks ago at a venue in Bangkok. Surrounded by loved ones, they walked down the aisle while bridesmaids scattered rose petals in their path. Now, they plan to make their marriage official on Thursday.
For the couple, the law’s timing is vital due to their 7-year-old daughter, whom they’ve been raising for three years. Nina explained that the girl, the biological child of her uncle, needs them to be legally recognized as a family for security and stability.
“I had tears flowing from my eyes when we were thinking about our lives (without the same-sex marriage law). What if … I, or he, or even my daughter fell ill, who would look after us?” she shared. “But now, I can confidently say that I can do it, building a family of my own.”
Philippine national Ana Boncan and her Thai partner, Siri Wattanavikij, are another couple celebrating this development. The two met six years ago through a dating app and have been living in Bangkok together since 2020.
“With this opportunity to get legally married here in Thailand, it gives us the opportunity to have a marriage visa,” Ana explained.
The couple is also looking forward to the legal protections that come with marriage, particularly in medical emergencies.
“When we go to the hospital, I can tell them that this is my wife, this is my partner, she makes decisions for me, things like that. Unlike before, they wouldn’t accept it in the hospital,” Ana said.
While the recognition of same-sex marriage is a significant milestone, advocates caution that Thailand may remain an outlier in the region for some time.
Globally, over 30 jurisdictions recognize same-sex marriage, primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Australasia.
Thailand now joins Taiwan (2019) and Nepal (2023) as the only Asian countries to legalize such unions.
However, challenges persist for other LGBTQ+ communities in Thailand, particularly transgender individuals.
Despite Thailand’s reputation as a haven for gender-affirming care and its celebrated trans entertainers, many local transgender people face societal discrimination.
“Even now, as a Thai person, they still look down on us, seeing us as a joke. They laugh and smile, nudging each other while looking at us,” shared Chuadkhunthod.
The Thai parliament rejected a proposed gender recognition bill last February. Hua Boonyapisomparn, a representative from the Foundation of Transgender Alliance for Human Rights, emphasized the need to push for progress.
“We should use marriage equality as an opportunity to open another door for gender recognition,” Hua said.
As celebrations unfold, Thailand’s LGBTQ+ community is determined to continue advocating for equal rights, ensuring that the momentum of this landmark achievement paves the way for further inclusion.
