Thailand’s king has officially signed a marriage equality bill into law, making the country the first in Southeast Asia to recognize same-s*x unions.
The bill passed the Senate in June 2024 but required the monarch’s approval to be enacted. It was published in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday, September 24, and will take effect on January 22 next year.
Activists have called this a historic milestone, marking the culmination of years of advocacy for marriage equality.
The new law employs gender-neutral language instead of terms like “husbands,” “wives,” “men,” and “women,” and it grants same-s*x couples rights to adoption and inheritance.
“Today, we’re not just signing marriage certificates; we’re also writing a page in history that shows love knows no boundaries,” said Ann Chumaporn, a long-time LGBTQ+ activist and co-founder of the Bangkok Pride movement, in an interview with the BBC. “It’s a victory for equality and human dignity.”
Chumap*rn plans to organize a mass wedding for over 1,000 LGBTQ+ couples on January 22.
“We are all delighted and excited. We’ve been fighting for our rights for over 10 years, and now it’s finally happening,” added fellow activist Siritata Ninlapruek in a statement to AFP.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed his support on X, stating, “Congratulations on everyone’s love. #LoveWins.”