21-12-2023 (BANGKOK) The Thai parliament has commenced discussions on four draft bills concerning the legalization of same-sex marriage, marking a significant step towards potential approval. The first round of voting on these bills is anticipated later on Thursday.
This move follows last year’s parliamentary debates on similar draft laws and the previous government’s proposal for same-sex civil unions, which, however, did not reach a conclusive vote before the session concluded.
The four draft bills under consideration include one presented by the newly elected government, another by civil society groups, and two additional proposals from the opposition Move Forward and the Democrats parties. Despite originating from diverse sources, all four drafts share comparable approaches to same-sex marriage legalization.
Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsuthin addressed parliament regarding the government’s draft bill, stating, “In principle, this draft law is for the amendment of some provisions in the civic codes to open the way for lovers, regardless of their gender, to engage and get married. This will provide rights, responsibilities, and family status as equal to the marriage between a man and a woman presently in all aspects.”
Somsak further informed parliament that a survey conducted between October 31 and November 14 indicated significant public support, with 96.6% backing the draft bill.
While Thailand boasts one of Asia’s most open and visible LGBTQ+ communities, activists argue that existing laws and institutions continue to discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community and same-sex couples, failing to align with evolving social attitudes.
If the draft laws secure approval during Thursday’s parliamentary first reading, they could progress to final reading votes early next year. If successful, Thailand would become the third Asian country, following Taiwan and Nepal, to officially recognize same-sex marriage.
