Thailand's Senate has largely approved a bill to legalize same-sex marriage

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand's Senate voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to approve a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage, clearing the final legislative hurdle for the country to become the first in Southeast Asia to enact such a law.

Thailand has a reputation for acceptance and inclusion but has struggled for decades to pass marriage equality laws. Thai society holds largely conservative values, and members of the LGBTQ+ community say they face discrimination in everyday life.

Governments and state agencies are also historically conservative, and gender equality advocates have had a hard time pressuring lawmakers and civil servants to accept change.

Thailand will become the third country in Asia, after Taiwan and Nepal, to allow same-sex marriage. The marriage equality bill, which grants full legal, financial and medical rights to marriage partners of either sex, sailed through the House of Representatives just before the previous parliamentary session ended in April with the approval of 400 of the 415 members present.

It passed final reading in the Senate on Tuesday with the approval of 130 of the 152 members, 4 voting against and 18 abstentions.

The bill now needs King Maha Vajiralongkorn's pro forma assent, after which it will be published in the Official Gazette, which will set a date within 120 days of coming into force.

The Senate's vote on Tuesday, the first day of the current parliamentary session, signaled the urgency to pass the bill. The law will amend the country's civil and commercial codes to replace gender-specific terms such as “male and female” with gender-neutral terms such as “person”.

But it was not approved without hindrance. A member of the Senate, retired army general Orapong Sa-Nganate, argued that gender-specific positions should still be enshrined in law along with gender-neutral positions. He said their removal would be a serious “destruction of the family institution” in Thailand.

Fireworks fly into the sky at the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, on Tuesday, the day the Senate approved a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage.

Sakchai Lalit/AP

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Sakchai Lalit/AP

After the vote, Plaifah Kyoka Shodlad, an 18-year-old who identifies as non-binary, took the floor and thanked everyone who supported the law, calling it a “power of hope” that would help Thailand embrace diversity more.

“Today, love trumps prejudice,” says Plyfah.

The government, confident of the bill's passage, announced several days ago that it would celebrate the event at Government House on Tuesday. The grounds in front of the main building were decorated with rainbow carpets, flags and a giant balloon the size of two hands symbolizing the heart. The party was joined by politicians, celebrities, diplomats and LGBTQ+ community activists and their supporters who rode a colorful parade of floats from Parliament after the vote.

Prime Minister Sretha Thavisin, who could not attend the event as she recently tested positive for COVID-19, wrote congratulations on social media platform X.

“I am proud of the collective efforts of all stakeholders that reaffirm the strength of 'unity in diversity' of Thai society. We will continue our fight for social rights for all people regardless of their status,” he wrote.

Mukdapa Yangyuenpradorn of human rights organization Fortify Rights said the passage of the law was “a victory for justice and human rights”.

“The Thai government must now focus on ensuring the swift and effective implementation of this law to protect LGBTI+ rights,” he said. “Marriage equality is fundamental to human dignity, and it is imperative that Thailand protects these rights without delay or discrimination.”

The Pheu Thai Party-led government, which took power last year, has made marriage equality one of its main goals. It made a big effort to identify itself with the annual Bangkok Pride Parade earlier this month, where thousands of people celebrated in one of Bangkok's busiest commercial districts.