Bangkok: The Parliament of Thailand decisively approved a bill legalising same-sex marriage on Wednesday, pushing it closer to being the first Southeast Asian country to embrace equality. The law, which was passed by a vote of 400 to 10, with a few abstentions, will now move to the Senate. If it passes there and is authorised by Thailand’s monarch, the country will be the first in Southeast Asia to recognise same-sex marriage. Taiwan and Nepal are the only countries in Asia to have done so.
Thailand’s bill defines marriage as a “partnership between two individuals” rather than a woman and a man. It will also grant LGBTQ couples similar rights to numerous tax breaks, the capacity to inherit property, and the authority to provide medical treatment permission for impaired partners.
According to a report in ANI, the document will also include adoption rights. Thai law currently only enables heterosexual couples to adopt, though single women can adopt children with special needs.
“The modification to this law is for all Thais. It is the starting stage for achieving equality,” Danuphorn Punnakanta, chair of the lower house’s marriage equality committee, told Parliament.
How Did The Bill Got Inducted?
The law has been in the works for more than a decade, with roadblocks arising from political turmoil and differences on the method to pursue and what should be included in the measure.
Last December, the Thai Parliament approved four draft measures on same-sex marriage: one offered by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s administration, and three more by the Move Forward Party, the Democrat Party, and the civil sector. These four were blended into a single draft, which passed on Wednesday, according to the New York Times.
“This is the greatest victory,” said Nada Chaiyajit, a law lecturer at Mae Fah Luang University in Chiang Rai, who has supported the bill since its inception. “We’ve been working hard with the committee.” This applies to everyone, not just the LGBTQ community. Equality.”
Thailand is one of the most accepting countries for LGBTQ persons, yet other aspects of its Buddhist-dominated culture are socially restrictive.
Thailand’s Long Awaited Achievement
Thailand has long been considered a beacon of tolerance in Southeast Asia, and this legislative breakthrough further solidifies its reputation as a trailblazer in the region. The proposed law reflects a growing global trend towards marriage equality and underscores Thailand’s commitment to embracing diversity and upholding human rights.
Advocates of the bill argue that legalizing same-sex marriage is not only a matter of fairness and equality but also a crucial step towards building a more inclusive society. By affording all couples the right to marry regardless of their sexual orientation, Thailand is sending a powerful message of acceptance and respect for diversity.
(With inputs from ANI)
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