Thailand makes history as first ASEAN country to legalise same-sex marriage

The country’s lawmakers on June 18 decided in a 130-4 vote to approve the equal marriage bill during a revision of amendments to the Civil and Commercial Code in an extraordinary session.

This follows a review and approval by a special committee and the celebration of Pride Month by the Thai LGBT community ahead of the marriage equality bill readings.

The approval of the bill makes Thailand the first of the countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to legalise same-sex marriage.

Senator Kamnoon Sithisamarn, a spokesperson for the special committee, highlighted that this bill represents a new dimension for Thai society. “It has been a long journey over 10 years, driven by people who may not have been directly visible to the public,” he was quoted by Nation Thailand.

Kamnoon had previously stated that the Senate had no reason to oppose the bill since it was supported by the House of Representatives, which is elected by the people.

The bill is now set to go to the Cabinet for final approval before being handed over to the palace for royal endorsement.

The new law will come into effect 120 days after its publication in the Royal Gazette, likely making it a New Year's gift to the people of Thailand.

Under the new law, “two persons of any gender” can marry and be eligible for rights such as:

• Right to get engaged/married for all aged 18 and above: Legal unions are permissible provided all parties are 18 years old.
• Property management for married couples: Property laws for married same-sex couples will be the same as those applicable to opposite-sex couples.
• Divorce rights: Divorce by mutual consent and division of assets will be applicable for married same-sex couples.

Same-sex marriage is legal and recognised in 37 countries including Andorra, Denmark, France, Mexico, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, and Canada among others.