Thailand legalizes same-sex marriage

Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn on Tuesday signed into law a marriage equality bill passed by parliament earlier this year. The law will allow same-sex couples to legally marry beginning in mid-January. Additionally, the law changes the country’s Civil and Commercial code to use gender-neutral words like “individual” instead of “men and women.” Under the amended law, heterosexual and same-sex couples would receive the same financial, legal, and medical rights. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra applauded the move and Thailand’s tourism authority has prioritized making the country what it characterizes as an LGBTQ+ friendly destination.

Why is this significant? Thailand will be the first country in Southeast Asia to legally recognize same-sex marriages. Taiwan and Nepal are the only other two countries in Asia that recognize homosexual unions, though activists around the world have pushed for similar laws. A Japanese court earlier this year ruled that the country’s ban on same-sex marriages was unconstitutional and Greece allowed same-sex marriage in February.

Dig deeper: Listen to John Stonestreet and Nick Eicher discuss international laws about same-sex marriage on The World and Everything in It podcast.