Thailand has officially legalized same-sex marriage, making it the third Asian country to do so, after Taiwan. The law, which was published in the Royal Gazette and endorsed by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, will take effect in 120 days, meaning that LGBTQ+ couples can register their marriages in January 2024.
The legislation, which grants full legal, financial, and medical rights to marriage partners regardless of gender, was passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate in April and June, respectively.
“Congratulations to everyone’s love,” wrote on X, adding the hashtag #Love Wins.
Thailand has a reputation for acceptance and inclusivity, but struggled for decades to pass a marriage equality law. Despite this, Thai society largely holds conservative values, and members of the LGBTQ+ community report facing discrimination in their daily lives.
The government and state agencies have also historically been conservative, and advocates for gender equality faced significant challenges in convincing lawmakers and civil servants to accept change.
Bangkok Deputy Governor Sanon Wangsrangboon announced last week that city officials will be ready to register same-sex marriages as soon as the law is enacted.
The legislation amended the country’s Civil and Commercial Code to replace gender-specific terms such as “men and women” with gender-neutral terms like “individual.”
The Pheu Thai party, currently in power, has prioritized marriage equality as a key goal. They actively engaged with the annual Bangkok Pride parade in June, where thousands gathered in one of Bangkok’s busiest commercial districts to celebrate.
The organizers of Bangkok Pride announced on Facebook that they will organize a wedding for couples who wish to register their marriage on the very first day the law comes into effect.