Parliament adopts groundbreaking same-sex union measure in Thailand.

On Wednesday, Thailand’s parliament rapidly passed a marriage equality bill, bringing one of Asia’s most liberal nations closer to allowing same-sex unions.
Every major Thai government supported the measure, which took over a decade to take shape. It require Senate and king approval before becoming law and goes into effect 120 days later.
The bill, voted by 400 of 415 lawmakers with 10 opposed to it, might allow same-sex unions in Thailand, Taiwan, and Nepal.

“We did this for all Thai people to reduce disparity in society and start creating equality,” draft bill committee chairman Danuphorn Punnakanta told legislators before the reading.
“I want to invite you all to make history.”
The bill’s passage advances Thailand’s position as one of Asia’s most liberal nations on LGBT matters, where openness and progressive attitudes coexist with strict Buddhist traditions.

Thailand has long attracted same-sex couples with a bustling LGBT social scene for locals and expatriates and focused LGBT travel advertising.

Rights advocates have long argued that its laws and institutions still discriminate against LGBT persons and same-sex couples.

The Wednesday law consolidates four draft measures and recognizes marriage between two persons of any gender, not just husbands and wives.
The country’s civil and commercial legislation allows a married spouse full inheritance and adoption rights.
In 2021, the Constitutional Court upheld Thailand’s heterosexual marriage statute and recommended expanding it to protect other genders.
LGBT campaigner and Mae Fah Luang University law instructor Nada Chaiyajit said the bill’s passage was beneficial but left several aspects unanswered.
LGBT campaigners on the parliamentary committee unsuccessfully lobbied for the terms “father” and “mother” to be replaced to the gender-neutral “parent” in family unit references on Wednesday to avoid adoption difficulties.
“I’m happy indeed but this isn’t a full marriage equality, it is only same-sex marriage,” she remarked. “We granted marriage rights but not full family establishment rights. It’s unfortunate we didn’t go further.”