- Thai king signs same-sex marriage bill into law
- Thailand is the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise same-sex unions
- It is set to take effect on January 22 of next year
Thai king signs same-sex marriage bill into law
Thailand has made history as the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise same-sex unions, following the signing of a landmark marriage equality bill by the king. The bill, which passed the Senate in June, received royal endorsement and was officially published in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday. It is set to take effect on January 22 of next year.
This moment marks a significant victory for LGBTQ+ activists, who have spent years campaigning for marriage equality in Thailand. The move is seen as a major step forward in LGBTQ+ rights in a region where such progress is rare.
Thailand has long been viewed as a more accepting place for the LGBTQ+ community compared to its neighbours, and this new law further cements its reputation as a haven for equality in Southeast Asia.
The new law uses gender-neutral terms in place of “husbands”, “wives”, “men” and “women”. And it grants same-sex couples adoption and inheritance rights.