Thailand Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage
A historic moment from Southeast Asia’s most LGBTQ+ Country
Thailand, the home country of the famous Moo-Deng, the pygmy hippo turned internet sensation, celebrated a historic moment last week by becoming the first Southeast Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage. The bill had already been passed by the Thai Senate in June. However, since Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, the bill needed to get royal endorsement before becoming a law. Earlier this week, King Maha Vajiralongkorn gave his approval. The bill is expected to go into effect in 120 days or early January 2025. This bill will allow for same-sex couples to be legally married, granting them full legal, medical, and financial rights just like any other married couple. It also amends the country’s Civil and Commercial code to replace gender-specific terms such as “woman” and "man” with more inclusive terms such as “individual.”
This bill makes Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia and the third country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. Taiwan became the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2019 and Nepal followed suit in 2023. Last year, India was close to legalizing same-sex marriage until its Supreme Court declined to do so and left the decision up to a government committee, a devastating blow to queer activists. Conservative religious and societal beliefs continue to shape policies of many Asian countries. Therefore most do not legally recognize same-sex marriage. Despite the ongoing efforts by activists, there remains little hope for same-sex marriage recognition in other parts of the region anytime soon. This makes Thailand’s historic bill all the more significant.
Thailand, however, has long been known for its image of LGBTQ+ acceptance and tolerance. With so many of its neighboring countries being conservative and unwelcoming, Thailand stood out as an LGBTQ “haven.” This is especially evident in tourism campaigns. This can be seen by the “Go Thai, Be Free” campaign pushed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. When you click on the website, you are immediately greeted with colorful images showing same-sex couples on vacation in Thailand. The website stresses how the country proudly accepts all people regardless of orientation. In a world where many queer people continue to face homophobia, there is a strong appeal to travel to a country where you are welcomed. This appeal has proven to be very powerful and has drawn in millions of LGBTQ+ tourists each year, especially those from countries such as China, where they were often ostracized.
Additionally, Thai dramas known as “BL Dramas” or Boy Love Dramas, have gained immense popularity globally. These dramas are love stories revolving around male same-sex couples and have become extremely popular following the Covid-19 pandemic. In response to their success, the Thai government has invested more money into producing these dramas and their continued promotion abroad. All of these aspects feed into the image Thailand has created of being very LGBTQ friendly. So why has it taken so long for same-sex marriage to be legalized?
Well, the reality does not always match what is portrayed in the media and advertisements. While Thailand is very welcoming to LGBTQ+ tourists—who bring in large amounts of money for the tourism industry—the local Thai LGBTQ+ population still faces backlash and homophobia, especially in daily lives. The sentiment is often described as “tolerance but not inclusion.” The population is still made up of a largely conservative Buddhist and Muslim population, which has impacted governmental policies. However, these perceptions are slowly changing over the years. The current ruling party made equal marriage a large priority in their policies and the bill passed through the Senate with little backlash.
So this new law is a major victory for LGBTQ+ activists who have spent years lobbying for it. Equal marriage rights to same-sex couples is moving Thailand towards more acceptance and tolerance. A direction that one day, other neighboring countries will one day follow.