The Thai King has signed a royal decree granting Thai citizens who are in same-sex relationships the legal right to marry. This was according to a royal decree widely disseminated by Thai media on Tuesday, September 24. With this new law, Thailand has become the first Southeast Asian country to officially accept same-sex marriages. King Maha Vajiralongkorn signed the law on same-sex marriage on Tuesday. This decree follows the Thai parliament’s approval of the law in May, with the Senate giving its consent in June, before sending it for royal endorsement.
This law is also a landmark achievement of former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, a politician who supports the LGBTQ+ community. At the end of 2023, the government of Srettha Thavisin drafted numerous versions of the marriage law to propose amendments, allowing Thai citizens to marry without the requirement that they must be of different sexes from birth. Consequently, Thai lawmakers removed the terms “man,” “woman,” “husband,” and “wife,” and replaced them with “individual,” “marriage partner,” or “union partner.”
Apiwat Apiwatsayree, 49, a prominent member of the LGBTQ+ community in Thailand, told AFP in Bangkok that he has been in a relationship with his male partner, Sappanyoo Panatkool, for 17 years, and had long awaited this law. He stated that when the law officially comes into effect, he would hold his partner’s hand to register their marriage right away.
It should be noted that after the Thai royal family publishes this royal decree, the same-sex marriage law will officially take effect and become enforceable in 120 days. Thai citizens in such relationships can start legally organizing their weddings from January 2025 onwards. The right to legally marry also means that union partners have the right to transfer or inherit assets, and importantly, have the right to adopt children—something that previously faced legal challenges.
As a reminder, the LGBTQ+ community in Thailand started celebrating same-sex rights for the first time in 1999 during Halloween, a Western festival. At that time, the event was named the “Bangkok Gay Festival,” organized by Pakorn Pimton. It took 25 years for this dream to become a reality. Thai society has become more open, and state institutions at all levels have acknowledged same-sex individuals. However, some civil society organizations in Thailand that advocate for the rights and health of LGBTQ+ individuals still observe persistent discrimination and inappropriate behavior, particularly verbal and written harassment.
Across Asia, Taiwan was the first to recognize same-sex marriages in 2019. Later, Nepal registered same-sex marriages in November 2023. Thailand has become the first kingdom in Southeast Asia to officially recognize same-sex unions. Globally, there are now over 30 countries where same-sex marriage is legal, with the Netherlands being the first in 2001.
