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Thailand Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage; Over 1,400 Couples Wed in Historic Move

Jan 23, 2025, 02:18 AM

Thailand has become the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, with a landmark law that took effect on Thursday, January 23, 2025. The Marriage Equality Bill amends the Civil and Commercial Code to define marriage as a union between 'individuals' rather than 'men and women,' and replaces 'husband' and 'wife' with the gender-neutral term 'marriage partners.' Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra attended celebrations as hundreds of LGBTQ couples registered their marriages across the country, including mass weddings at Bangkok's Siam Paragon Mall. Over 1,448 couples were expected to tie the knot. A high-profile gay couple, both actors, were among the first to marry. One couple expressed their joy, saying, 'We have been waiting 18 years.' Thailand is now the third country in Asia to recognize marriage equality, following Taiwan and Nepal. The new law grants same-sex couples the same legal rights as heterosexual couples, including rights related to inheritance, adoption, and medical decision-making.