Lawmakers in Thailand’s lower house of parliament overwhelmingly endorsed a marriage equality bill on Wednesday, potentially making the country the first in Southeast Asia to legalise equal rights for marriage partners of any gender.
The bill cleared its final reading with the support of 400 out of 415 members of the House of Representatives present while 10 voted against it, two abstained, and three did not vote.
Thailand is known for its ethos of acceptance and inclusivity, yet it has faced prolonged challenges in passing legislation for marriage equality.
Despite its reputation, Thai society largely upholds conservative values, leading to instances of discrimination against members of the LGBTQ+ community in everyday interactions.
Moreover, the government and state agencies have traditionally held conservative stances, presenting obstacles for advocates of gender equality seeking to sway lawmakers and civil servants towards embracing change.
The bill now proceeds to the Senate, where it is uncommon for legislation approved by the lower house to be rejected, before reaching the king for royal endorsement.
If enacted, Thailand would become the first country or region in Southeast Asia to pass such a law, following the footsteps of Taiwan and Nepal in Asia.
The bill proposes amendments to the Civil and Commercial Code, substituting the terms “men and women” and “husband and wife” with “individuals” and “marriage partners”.
This amendment aims to grant LGBTQ+ couples full access to legal, financial, and medical rights.
Commencing his statement in Parliament, Danuphorn Punnakanta, spokesperson for the governing Pheu Thai party and president of the committee overseeing the marriage equality bill.
He emphasised that the amendment is designed for “everyone in Thailand,” regardless of their gender, and assured that it wouldn’t infringe upon the rights of heteros*xual couples.
He asserted, “With this law, our aim is to restore rights to the LGBTQ+ community. We’re not conferring rights upon them; these are fundamental rights that this group of people… has been deprived of.”
Mookdapa Yangyuenpradorn from the human rights organisation Fortify Rights hailed the passage of the bill as a monumental moment for Thailand and the LGBTQ+ community.
She pointed out, though, that lawmakers didn’t endorse the addition of the word “parent” alongside “father and mother” in the legislation, a move activists argued would curtail the parental rights of LGBTQ+ couples.
The newly elected government under Pheu Thai leadership, inaugurated last year, has prioritised marriage equality as one of its key objectives.
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