Thailand is set to witness a historic moment as hundreds of same-sex couples marry on Thursday, marking the implementation of the country’s landmark equal marriage law.
The milestone makes Thailand the largest nation in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage and the first in Southeast Asia to do so.
The event will feature a mass LGBTQ+ wedding in Bangkok organised by Bangkok Pride in collaboration with city authorities. The celebration includes marriage registrations at the Siam Paragon shopping mall and district offices nationwide, as the law officially takes effect.
For many, this day represents years of struggle and advocacy. Ariya “Jin” Milintanapa, a transgender woman who has awaited this moment for two decades, told AFP: “This day is important not just for us, but for our kids as well. Our family will finally become one.”
Thailand’s same-sex marriage bill, passed in June 2024 and ratified by King Maha Vajiralongkorn in October, removes gendered language from the definition of marriage. It replaces terms like “husband” and “wife” with inclusive, gender-neutral terms and grants same-sex couples rights to adoption and inheritance.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra celebrated the occasion, stating, “No matter your gender or who you love, love knows no limits or expectations. Everyone will be protected under the same laws.”
Thailand, known for its relative tolerance of LGBTQ+ communities, ranks highly on global LGBTQ+ equality indexes. However, activists highlight that the journey to equal marriage has been long and arduous, with efforts often derailed by political instability and conservative opposition.
Activist Siritata Ninlapruek described the struggle as bittersweet, emphasising the ongoing need for progress. “I am extremely happy, but my fight for the community continues,” she said, advocating for broader gender identity recognition beyond biological sex.
Thailand joins Taiwan and Nepal as the third country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage. It is also the 34th country worldwide to do so following the Netherlands’ historic legalisation of same-sex unions in 2001.
While the milestone is celebrated, activists acknowledge that social attitudes still pose challenges in the Buddhist-majority kingdom where traditional and conservative values persist.
