Geline Salac

Article (news)

LGBTQ

Agence France-Presse

<p>BANGKOK - Hundreds of same-sex couples are set to tie the knot in Thailand on Thursday as it becomes by far the largest nation in Asia to allow equal marriage.</p><p>A mass LGBTQ wedding in the capital, organised by campaign group Bangkok Pride with city authorities, expects hundreds of marriage registrations as the law comes into effect.</p><p>Transgender woman Ariya &quot;Jin&quot; Milintanapa, who has waited two decades for this moment, told AFP she was &quot;psyched&quot;.</p><p>&quot;This day is important not just for us, but for our kids as well. Our family will finally become one,&quot; she said.</p><p>Thailand ranks highly on indexes of LGBTQ legal and living conditions, and public attitudes, and Thursday&#x27;s milestone makes it the first Southeast Asian country to allow equal marriage.</p><p>The kingdom&#x27;s same-sex marriage bill was passed in a historic parliamentary vote last June, the third place in Asia to do so after Taiwan and Nepal.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9Ucq0_dVcTE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/6/18/thailand-approves-same-sex-marriage-1636">&#x27;Victory for the people&#x27;: Thailand approves same-sex marriage</a></div><p>The law was ratified by King Maha Vajiralongkorn in October and comes into effect after 120 days.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/9/24/thai-king-signs-same-sex-marriage-into-law-2137">&#x27;Monumental step&#x27; as Thai king signs same-sex marriage into law</a></div><p>The law on marriage now uses gender-neutral terms in place of &quot;men&quot;, &quot;women&quot;, &quot;husbands&quot; and &quot;wives&quot;, and also grants adoption and inheritance rights to same-sex couples.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/1/22/lgbtq-rights-where-does-southeast-asia-stand-1923">LGBTQ+ rights: Where does Southeast Asia stand?</a></div><p>More than 30 countries around the world have legalised marriage for all since the Netherlands became the first to allow same-sex unions in 2001.</p><p>Couples will be able to register at the main mass wedding at Bangkok&#x27;s central Siam Paragon shopping mall and district offices nationwide from 8:00 am on Thursday.</p><p>It marks the culmination of years of campaigning and thwarted attempts to pass equal marriage laws.</p><p>Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said during a celebratory photoshoot last week: &quot;No matter your gender or who you love, love knows no limits or expectations. Everyone will be protected under the same laws.&quot;</p><p>Thailand has long had an international reputation for tolerance of the LGBTQ community, and opinion polls reported in local media have shown overwhelming public support for equal marriage.</p><p>However, much of the Buddhist-majority kingdom retains traditional and conservative values and LGBTQ people say they still face barriers and discrimination in everyday life.</p><p>Thai activists have been pushing for same-sex marriage rights for more than a decade, with their advocacy stalled by political turbulence in a country regularly upended by coups and mass street protests.</p><p>Siritata Ninlapruek, an LGBTQ activist, described the journey as a challenging, bittersweet battle.</p><p>&quot;I am extremely happy, but my fight for the community continues,&quot; she said.</p><p>She emphasised the need for gender identity recognition beyond biological sex.</p><p>&quot;Whether male, female or non-binary, people should have the right to identify as they wish.&quot;</p><p>tak-sjc/dhw</p><p>© Agence France-Presse</p>

Mass LGBTQ wedding set as Thai same-sex marriage law comes into force

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Mass LGBTQ wedding set as Thai same-sex marriage law comes into force

Agence France-Presse

Published January 23, 2025 06:32 AM PHT

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thailand

lgbtq

same sex marriage

mass lgbtq wedding

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