Hundreds of couples are getting married in Bangkok as Thailand becomes the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriage.
Amendments to Thailand’s Criminal Code and Civil Code mean same-sex couples can legally marry in the country and enjoy the same rights as other couples, including financial, medical, adoption and inheritance rights.
Thailand is currently the third country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, after Taiwan and Nepal. LGBT+ groups hope that 1,448 people will register their marriages on the first day, a symbolic number that refers to a key amendment to Thailand’s civil code that will change the words “husband” and “wife” to “spouse” ”.
Organizers and relevant agencies plan to compile data on ceremonies across the country and submit a request to Guinness World Records to recognize Thailand as the country with the highest number of same-sex marriages registered in a single day in the world.
“One Four Four Eight symbolizes the fight for the right to marry for all genders. It represents the dream and hope of building an inclusive society that accepts and celebrates love in all its forms,” LGBT+ group Bangkok Pride said.
At a group wedding held by the group at the high-end Siam Paragon shopping mall in Bangkok, rainbow flags, flowers, hearts and smiles were everywhere.
Hundreds of same-sex couples registered their marriages, including a police officer who proudly displayed their marriage certificates to the audience.
Transgender woman Nina Chetniphat Chuadkhunthod said she was happy to be married to her partner of more than 20 years.
“I feel very happy and wonderful. We have been together for 22 years. [I’ve wanted to get married] For a long time, Thailand did not allow LGBT people to get married. But now I feel good and happy,” she said independent.
Ning and Bank were married in Bangkok on Thursday after 30 years of marriage (Tommy Walker/The Independent)
Ning and Bank also got married at the Siam Paragon wedding event wearing matching green suits. They have been waiting for this day for thirty years.
“One of us is 49 and the other is 48, and we have been together for 30 years,” they said.
Mookdapa Yangyuenpradorn, a member of Fortify Rights who has been campaigning for marriage equality laws, said the number of people getting married on Thursday showed how big the LGBT+ community is in Thailand.
“The registration is full and they closed it due to so many couples coming to collect their marriage certificates. This means we have a large community of many LBTQI couples waiting for this day and for their marriage to become a reality .
Same-sex marriages also take place across the Thai capital, including at the local regional office.
Thanadech Jandee married his partner at the Bang Kapi district office in Bangkok.
“I woke up very early today and went to register early. I was a little excited because we were going to be one. It was so that we, the couple, could live a normal family life. Not strangers. We got married at 8:20 in the morning. ” he said.
Thanadech is a 35-year-old transgender man. He lives in Bangkok with his new wife and her son from a previous relationship. They were eager to get married and were ecstatic to finally be able to tie the knot. “I’ve been waiting for four years,” he added.
Hundreds of same-sex couples got married in Bangkok on Thursday (Tommy Walker/The Independent)
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who is currently attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, also posted a message on her Facebook to celebrate the enactment of the law.
The post read: “This victory is the result of the joint efforts of everyone, especially the LGBTQIA+ community, who are at the core of why the Equal Marriage Act comes into effect today.”
Thailand has one of the most open LGBT+ communities in Asia. The country has long allowed celebrations such as Pride parades and international transgender beauty pageants, and is a global leader in gender reassignment surgery. Thailand also passed the Gender Equality Act ten years ago in 2015, which aims to protect everyone from gender discrimination.
But LGBT+ activists argue that some of Thailand’s laws so far do not represent equality within the community.
“Thailand is now moving towards becoming an open place, a place that is tolerant of LGBT+ couples and those who are in a relationship and want to register their marriage,” Mookdapa said.
The majority of Thailand’s population is Buddhist and has conservative values, which means LGBTQI people face discrimination in daily life. Provisions such as establishing a legally recognized home remain a challenge for some couples.
The definition of family—the father is male and the mother is female—remains in Thai law.
Activists are still campaigning for greater protections for the LGBT+ community through the Gender Recognition Act, which would legally protect and recognize the rights of people of all genders.
