Hundreds of same-sex couples get married: Thailand's law comes into force

Hundreds of same-sex couples get married: Thailand's law comes into force

One hundred LGBTQ+ couples will be in on Thursday Thailand get married as the country becomes the first in Southeast Asia to recognize marriage for all. This landmark law is a significant step forward for the LGBTQ+ community, which has fought for the same marriage rights as heterosexual couples for over a decade.

Importance of the law for the LGBTQ+ community

"This could be a model for the world because Thailand is now an example. There is true marriage equality in Thailand," said Kittinun Daramadhaj, a lawyer and president of the Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand, which has advocated for equality for many years.

Rights for same-sex couples

By Thailand's parliament last year said goodbye and confirmed by the king By law, same-sex couples can register their marriages with full legal, financial and medical protection. This also includes adoption and inheritance law.

celebrations in the country

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra praised the country's success at an event last week where she invited scores of LGBTQ+ couples and activists to government offices. "This shows that Thailand is ready to accept diversity and embrace love in all its forms. Today shows that our country is open and accepting," she said.

Celebrations will take place across the country on Thursday, from the eastern coastal city of Pattaya to the mountainous city of Chiang Mai in the north.

Mass wedding in Bangkok

In downtown Bangkok, at least 200 couples have registered to take part in a mass wedding at a popular shopping mall, according to Bangkok Pride, which organized the event together with local authorities. Rainbow flags will fly through the heart of Bangkok and a "pride carpet" will be rolled out at the celebration for the newlyweds, accompanied by appearances from celebrities and drag queens.

A dream becomes reality

For some, like Nina Chetniphat Chuadkhunthod, who will attend the mass celebration at Siam Paragon Mall, this day feels long overdue. The trans woman was unable to marry her boyfriend of 22 years because she cannot legally change her gender. But now that marriage is recognized for same-sex couples, they can finally tie the knot.

"I feel like, wow, my dream is about to become a reality," the 42-year-old said in a recent interview with CNN.

The challenges of adoption

Chuadkhunthod and her fiancée celebrated their wedding reception three weeks ago. At a ceremony on the outskirts of Bangkok, the pair walked arm in arm down the aisle as bridesmaids strewed their path with rose petals, surrounded by cheering friends and family. They plan to register their marriage on Thursday. “It was the proudest moment of my life to be able to do this and show the world that I did it,” she added.

What is particularly urgent is the desire to adopt their 7-year-old daughter, whom they have been raising for three years. She is the daughter of Chuadkhunthod's uncle, who cannot care for her. “We have to adopt them and live as a family, but that is only possible with a valid marriage,” she explained.

Health issues and legal protection

"I had tears in my eyes as we thought about our lives without the same-sex marriage law. What if me, him or even my daughter got sick? Who would take care of us?" she said. But now she can confidently say: “I can manage to start a family.”

Filipino national Ana Boncan met her Thai girlfriend Siri Wattanavikij on a dating app six years ago while she was working in Europe. In 2020, Boncan moved to Bangkok to be with her. “With this opportunity to get legally married here in Thailand, we have the chance of getting a marriage visa,” says Boncan.

The challenges for other minorities

But lawyers and activists warn that Thailand may remain the last Asian country to recognize marriage for same-sex couples for a while, given slow progress in other regions. According to the Pew Research Center, more than 30 jurisdictions worldwide recognize same-sex marriage, with the most progress made in Europe, America and Australia.

Thailand has become the third Asian country to recognize same-sex marriages, after Taiwan in 2019 and Nepal four years later.

The challenge of gender identity

Domestically, the fight for equal rights continues, particularly for other sexual minorities such as transgender people. Lawyer Hua Boonyapisomparn from the local association Foundation of Transgender Alliance for Human Rights emphasizes that the next step is for the Thai government to allow transgender people to change their gender identity.

There are an estimated 314,000 trans people living in Thailand, according to the Asia Pacific Transgender Network. Despite the popular perception that transgender people are widely accepted in Thailand, many report discrimination in everyday life. "Even now we are considered a joke. They laugh and smile while looking at us," Chuadkhunthod said.

In February last year, Parliament rejected a gender recognition bill under the previous military-led government. Activists are now trying to put this issue back on the political agenda. “We should use marriage equality as an opportunity to open another door to gender recognition,” Boonyapisomparn said.