27-3-2024 (BANGKOK) In a momentous stride towards greater inclusivity, Thailand’s Lower House of Parliament resoundingly passed a groundbreaking marriage equality Bill on March 27, edging the nation closer to becoming the third territory in Asia to legalize same-sex unions.
The landmark legislation sailed through the final reading with overwhelming support, garnering 400 votes in favor from the 415 lawmakers present, with only 10 dissenting voices. This resounding endorsement underscores the widespread backing for marriage equality across Thailand’s major political parties.
“We did this for all Thai people to reduce disparity in society and start creating equality,” declared Mr. Danuphorn Punnakanta, chairman of the parliamentary committee overseeing the draft Bill. His rallying cry to “make history” reverberated through the chamber as lawmakers prepared to cast their historic votes.
The Bill’s passage marks a watershed moment for Thailand, long revered as one of Asia’s most progressive nations on LGBTQ+ issues. While traditional Buddhist values coexist with modern attitudes, the country has cultivated an environment of openness and acceptance, drawing same-sex couples and LGBTQ+ travelers from around the globe to its vibrant social scenes.
However, the road to marriage equality has been a long and winding one, with over a decade of delays, political upheavals, and debates on the appropriate legislative approach. In 2020, the Constitutional Court ruled that existing marriage laws, which only recognize heterosexual unions, were constitutional but urged lawmakers to expand protections for other gender identities.
Parliament heeded this call in December, approving four separate draft bills on same-sex marriage in the first reading before tasking a committee with consolidating them into a unified draft – the very legislation that triumphed on March 27.
With the Lower House’s resounding approval, the Bill now moves to the Senate for further scrutiny and, ultimately, royal endorsement before becoming enshrined in law. Should it clear these final hurdles, Thailand would join the ranks of Taiwan and Nepal as the first nations in Asia to fully legalize same-sex unions within 120 days of receiving the monarch’s blessing.
