Patpicha Tanakasempipat | (TNS) Bloomberg News
Thailand has become the first nation in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriages after King Maha Vajiralongkorn approved a law passed by the parliament three months ago.
The royal endorsement for the same-sex law was announced in a gazette notification late on Tuesday, with a clause that the legislation takes effect 120 days from the date of publication. The new law will allow same-sex couples to legally register marriages starting on Jan. 22.
Under the new law, Thailand will recognize marriage registrations of same-sex partners aged 18 and above, along with their rights to inheritance, tax allowances and child adoption, among others. It’s seen as a win for LGBTQ activists, who have fought for over a decade for the same rights to marry as heterosexual couples.
Although Thai laws have protected LGBTQ people from most kinds of discrimination since 2015, attempts to formalize marriage rights had stalled. Former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s administration advocated for the law, arguing it would also burnish Thailand’s reputation as an LGBTQ-friendly tourist destination.