NEW DELHI: Thailand’s lower house of parliament passed the same-sex marriage bill with overwhelming majority, marking a step towards LGBTQ rights in the Southeast Asian region. With this move, Thailand is set to become the first country in Southeast Asia to recognize marriage equality for LGBTQ community.
The bill secured a resounding mandate, passing with 399 votes in favor and only 10 against in the lower house of parliament.However, it still awaits approval from the Senate before it can receive royal endorsement and be published in the Royal Gazette.
During the parliamentary session, a representative carried a large rainbow flag into the chamber, symbolizing support for LGBTQ rights.
In Asia, only Taiwan and Nepal have formally recognized same-sex marriage, while India’s Supreme Court deferred the decision to parliament as of October.
Despite Thailand’s reputation as a welcoming destination for the international LGBTQ community, local activists have long grappled with entrenched conservative sentiments.
The proposed legislation entails altering language within the marriage law to adopt gender-neutral terms, eliminating references to gender-specific roles such as “men,” “women,” “husbands,” and “wives.” Additionally, the bill grants LGBTQ couples inheritance and adoption rights.
(With agency inputs)