Hundreds of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ+) couples in Thailand made their wedding status legal on Thursday as the country’s same-sex marriage law comes into effect. The enactment of the Marriage Equality Act makes Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia and the third place in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, after Taiwan and Nepal.
Marking the beginning of the revolutionary law, a high-profile gay couple married in Thailand on Thursday. Thai actors Apiwat “Porsch” Apiwatsayree, 49, and Sappanyoo “Arm” Panatkool, 38, in matching beige suits, were handed their pink-bordered marriage certificates at a registry office in Bangkok.
“We fought for it for decades and today is a remarkable day that love is love,” Arm was quoted as saying.
Same-Sex Marriage Law in Thailand
The law was ratified by King Maha Vajiralongkorn in September and came into effect after 120 days. It marks the culmination of years of campaigning and thwarted attempts to pass equal marriage laws.
The marriage equality bill, which sailed through both houses of the Parliament, amended the Civil and Commercial Code to change the words “men and women” and “husband and wife” to “individuals” and “marriage partners”. It is supposed to open up access to full legal, financial, and medical rights for LGBTQ+ couples.
Partners will have equal rights and responsibilities in dealing with joint assets, tax obligations and deductions, inheritance rights, and survivor benefits.
Thailand’s Reputation for Tolerance
Thailand has a reputation for acceptance and inclusivity, and thousands of people from around the world attend the annual Bangkok Pride parade. However, rights advocates have struggled for decades to pass a marriage equality law in a largely conservative society where members of the LGBTQ+ community say they face discrimination in everyday life.
Bangkok’s city government organized workshops for staff of all its district offices who are in charge of handling marriage registration, including lectures raising awareness about gender diversity and guidance on how to properly communicate with those who come for the service.
More than 30 countries have legalized marriage for all since the Netherlands became the first to allow same-sex unions in 2001. Thai activists have been pushing for same-sex marriage rights for more than a decade, with their advocacy stalled by political turbulence in a country regularly upended by coups and mass street protests.
