Thailand Becomes First Southeast Asian Country to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage

Thailand will become the first Southeast Asian country to legalize same-sex marriages after the Senate of the kingdom approved a marriage equality bill on Tuesday, which supporters called a "monumental step forward" in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.

The Senate voted overwhelmingly in favor of the bill during its final reading, with 130 senators supporting it and only 4 opposing it. The bill still requires royal assent before marriage equality becomes a reality in Thailand. The law will take effect 120 days after being published in the Royal Gazette.

The outcome of the vote means that Thailand will be the third place in Asia to permit marriage equality, following Taiwan, which legalized same-sex marriages in 2019, and Nepal, which did so in 2023.

"The bill is a huge step in protecting LGBTQ+ rights in Thailand," said Panyafon Phipatthunarun, founder of the Love Foundation, an organization advocating for LGBTQ+ equality in Thailand, to CNN. "The potential impact of this bill is immense. It will not only change the lives of countless couples but also contribute to creating a more equitable society for all."

The bill grants LGBTQ+ couples the same legal rights and recognition as heterosexual couples, including rights related to inheritance, adoption, and healthcare decisions.