Lawmakers in Thailand's lower house of Parliament have given overwhelming approval to a groundbreaking marriage equality bill, positioning Thailand as a potential trailblazer as the first Southeast Asian nation to legalize equal marriage rights for individuals of all genders.
The bill, which garnered support from 400 out of 415 attending members of the House of Representatives, proposes amendments to the Civil and Commercial Code, replacing the terms "men and women" and "husband and wife" with "individuals" and "marriage partners," thereby granting LGBTQ+ couples access to full legal, financial, and medical rights.
The next steps involve the bill proceeding to the Senate, where passage is anticipated, and then to the king for royal endorsement.
Should the bill become law, Thailand would emerge as the inaugural Southeast Asian country and the third in Asia, following Taiwan and Nepal, to enact such progressive legislation.
Speaking in Parliament, Danuphorn Punnakanta, a spokesperson for the ruling Pheu Thai party, emphasized that the amendment aims to ensure inclusivity for all individuals in Thailand, irrespective of gender, without infringing on the rights of heterosexual couples.
Despite Thailand's reputation for tolerance and inclusiveness, efforts to pass a marriage equality law have faced prolonged challenges.
The bill's omission of the term "parent" alongside "father and mother" has sparked concerns among activists, who argue that this could restrict certain LGBTQ+ couples' rights to form families and raise children.
Nevertheless, the current Pheu Thai-led government, which assumed office last year, has prioritized marriage equality as a key agenda item.