Thailand's parliament took a historic step towards LGBTQIA+ equality on Wednesday by voting to legalise same-sex marriage, as per CNN. This brings the Southeast Asian nation closer to becoming the third territory in Asia to recognise same-sex unions.
Lower House Approves Bill
The lower house of parliament overwhelmingly passed the bill in a third and final reading. With 400 representatives voting in favour and only 10 opposed, the legislation shows strong support for marriage equality in Thailand. (5 Street Foods You Must Try In Thailand)
However, the journey towards marriage equality isn't over yet. The bill still needs to be approved by the Senate and endorsed by the king. This process could take several months.
If the bill is passed into law, Thailand would become the first nation in Southeast Asia to legalise same-sex marriage. It would also join a select group of Asian countries that recognise same-sex unions, following Taiwan (2019) and Nepal (2023).
Plaifah Kyoka Shodladd, a member of the amendment committee, addressed parliament on Wednesday, highlighting the significance of the bill. "We are now writing a new Thai history that will change Thai society forever," she said. "The social situation has changed, and it is time that the law should catch up with the current situation."
The marriage equality bill enjoys support from all major political parties in Thailand. This vote marks a significant step towards solidifying the country's reputation for LGBTQIA+ inclusivity, compared to other nations in the region.
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Despite legal progress, members of the LGBTQ (Unravelling LGBTQ Stereotypes And Their Impact On Society) community in Thailand point out the gap between law and reality. While laws exist to prohibit discrimination, prejudice and even violence against LGBTQ individuals persist in Thailand's conservative society.
This isn't the first attempt to legalise same-sex marriage in Thailand. Previous attempts over the past decade haven't been successful. In 2020, the Constitutional Court ruled that the current law defining marriage as between a man and a woman was constitutional.
Countries That Legalised Same-Sex Marriage:
Netherlands: 2001
Belgium: 2003
Canada: 2005
Spain: 2005
South Africa: 2006
Norway: 2009
Sweden: 2009
Iceland: 2010
Portugal: 2010
Argentina: 2010
Denmark: 2012
Uruguay: 2013
New Zealand: 2013
France: 2013
Brazil: 2013
England and Wales: 2014
Scotland: 2014
Luxembourg: 2015
Ireland: 2015
United States: 2015
Greenland: 2016
Colombia: 2016
Finland: 2017
Germany: 2017
Malta: 2017
Australia: 2017
Austria: 2019
Taiwan: 2019
Ecuador: 2019
Ireland: 2020
Costa Rica: 2020
Switzerland: 2022
Mexico: 2022
Chile: 2022
Slovenia: 2022
Cuba: 2022
Andorra: 2023
Estonia: 2024
The data was sourced from the Human Rights Campaign's report titled "Marriage Equality Around the World."
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Image Courtesy: FreePik
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