Thailand has taken another stride toward LGBTQ+ equality after the country’s Cabinet approved an amendment to its civil code to officially recognize same-sex marriage.
Deputy government spokesperson, Karom Polpornklang, said the amendment with the Civial and Commercial Code will change the words “men and women” and “husband and wife” to “individuals” and “marriage partners,” allowing same-sex couples to be able to receive the same rights as hetero couples, according to AP News. The draft for the amendment is expected to be submitted to the Thai Parliament next month.
Thailand has been slowly moving toward becoming the first Southeast Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage and has been considered one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly countries in Southeast Asia for many years. This year over 50,000 people, including lawmakers, attended pride in Bangkok, the country’s capital city.
As it currently stands in the country, same-sex couples and heterosexual couples are granted the same rights, but only hetero couples can obtain legal recognition for marriage.
Current Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was elected under the Pheu Thai Party, a political party which openly supports the expansion LGBTQ+ rights. During campaigns the party has stated it will promote Thailand as a global LGBTQ+ destination.
Thailand has been making steady progress over the past year to create a more accepting and equal society for same-sex couples. In June, Thai lawmakers passed four different laws concerning same-sex unions. These four laws worked to grant same-sex couples equal rights to heterosexual couples, but fell short of granting same-sex couples rights to legalized marriage.
Across Asia, more countries have been making moves toward acceptance and equality for LGBTQ+ couples. In September, a top court in Hong Kong ordered the city to draw up a framework for same-sex unions over the next two years. And in July, Nepal’s Supreme Court issued an interim order allowing for the registration of same-sex marriages, despite challenges from lower local courts refusing to register some marriages.
