Thailand First SE Asian Country to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage

Thailand became the 38th nation to legalize gay marriage, as its marriage equality bill came into effect Thursday, prompting over 1,000 couples to get married in Bangkok on that day alone.

Activists described the day as full of color, smiles, and tears as several couples made their way to a Bangkok shopping mall in their wedding outfits to get married. Administrators rolled out a long, rainbow carpet to welcome the newlyweds.

According to Reuters, Thailand is the third territory in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, behind Nepal and Taiwan, and the first country in Southeast Asia.

According to the BBC, various district officials hosted free, public parties with photo booths and cupcakes to commemorate hundreds of couples’ decisions to “tie the knot”—one district even offered plane tickets to the first couple to register their marriage there.

“We have been ready for such a long time,” Pisit “Kew” Sirihirunchai, a police officer who was one of the first to register on Thursday, exclaimed to the BBC. “We have just been waiting for the law to catch up and support us.”

The new law establishes gay couples’ rights to get engaged and married, manage shared assets, and to have or adopt children. It also gives them the ability to make medical decisions on behalf of their spouse should they fall ill.

This was accomplished through the removal of gendered terms in the marriage bill. Now, instead of there being a husband and wife, the language centers around “individuals” and “spouses.”

In a sea of restrictive marriage laws all around Asia, Thailand sticks out as the new champion of LGBTQ+ rights. In the famously conservative Thai senate, the law was passed last year by a majority of 400 votes to 10, a deeply hopeful reflection of the country’s position on same-sex marriage.

This landmark decision ushers in a new era for Thailand’s LGBTQ+ community, offering a future filled with greater possibilities. For many newlywed couples, the next chapter is already taking shape—whether it’s finding a home, starting businesses together, or building a family.