Thai king signs same-sex marriage bill into law

Thailand's king has signed a matrimony equality measure into law, making the state the archetypal successful South East Asia to recognise same-sex unions.

The measure cleared the Senate successful June but required royal endorsement to go law. It was published successful the Royal Gazette connected Tuesday and volition travel into effect connected 22 January adjacent year.

Activists hailed the determination arsenic historical - it marks the culmination of years of campaigning for matrimony equality.

Thailand has agelong been seen arsenic a comparative haven for the LGBTQ+ assemblage successful a portion wherever specified attitudes are rare.

The caller instrumentality uses gender-neutral presumption successful spot of "husbands", "wives", "men" and "women". And it grants same-sex couples adoption and inheritance rights.

“Today we’re not lone getting to constitute our names successful matrimony certificates, but we are besides penning a leafage successful history... that tells america that emotion ne'er acceptable a information of who we were calved to be," Ann Chumaporn, a longtime LGBTQ+ activistic and co-founder of the Bangkok Pride movement, told the BBC.

"It’s a triumph of equality and quality dignity."

She said she plans to organise a wide wedding for much than 1,000 LGBTQ+ couples connected 22 January.

"We are each delighted and excited. We've been warring for our rights for implicit 10 years, and present it's yet happening," different activist, Siritata Ninlapruek, told AFP quality agency.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra posted connected X: "Congratulations connected everyone's love. #LoveWins."

Former PM Srettha Thavisin, who has been vocal successful his enactment for the bill, besides applauded the improvement arsenic a "significant step" for Thailand.

"Equity and equality person go factual successful the Thai society. Gender diverseness volition yet beryllium afloat accepted. Congratulations," helium wrote connected X.

When the instrumentality comes into effect, Thailand volition go lone the 3rd spot successful Asia, aft Taiwan and Nepal, wherever same-sex couples tin get married.

In 2019, Taiwan's parliament became the archetypal successful Asia to legalise same-sex marriage. Nepal registered its archetypal same-sex national successful November past year, 5 months aft its Supreme Court ruled successful favour of it.

This was conscionable 1 period aft India's apical tribunal had ruled against it, leaving the determination to the government, which said it would acceptable up a sheet to determine connected much ineligible rights for same-sex couples.

Singapore scrapped a colonial-era law that banned cheery enactment successful 2022, but besides amended its constitution to forestall the courts from challenging the explanation of matrimony arsenic 1 betwixt a antheral and a woman.

Additional reporting by Thanyarat Doksone successful Bangkok