Germana Carillo Thailand's House of Representatives has approved a bill that aims to legalize same-sex marriage
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In a groundbreaking move, the Lower House of Thailand has passed a bill that legally recognizes same-sex marriage. This legislation, now awaiting approval from the Senate and the formal endorsement of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, could take weeks or even months to become law.
However, it is expected to be finalized by the end of 2024, positioning Thailand as the sole country in Southeast Asia to acknowledge homosexual unions.
“This is the beginning of equality”
“This is the beginning of equality. It is not a universal cure for every problem, but it is the first step towards equality,” declared Danuphorn Punnakanta, a member of Parliament and chair of the Lower House’s marriage equality committee, to the legislature. He further emphasized, “This law intends to restore these rights to this group of people, not to grant them rights.”
With 400 of the 415 attending parliamentarians in favor, the new law redefines marriage as a union between two individuals, rather than between a man and a woman, granting LGBTQ+ couples equal rights, including the ability to adopt children.
Thailand already has laws in place that prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, marking this legislative advancement as a significant stride towards equality.
