Thailand’s king has officially signed a marriage equality bill into law, making Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia to legally recognize same-sex unions.
The bill passed the Senate in June 2024 but needed the king’s approval to become law. It was published in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday, September 24, and will take effect on January 22 next year.
Activists celebrated the decision as a historic milestone after years of campaigning for marriage equality. The new law uses gender-neutral language instead of terms like “husbands,” “wives,” “men,” and “women,” and grants same-sex couples the same rights to adoption and inheritance as heterosexual couples.
Ann Chumaporn, a longtime LGBTQ+ activist and co-founder of the Bangkok Pride movement, expressed her joy, saying, “Today, we’re not just signing marriage certificates, we’re also making history… showing that love isn’t defined by who we were born to be. It’s a victory for equality and human dignity.” She also mentioned plans to organize a mass wedding for over 1,000 LGBTQ+ couples on January 22.
Another activist, Siritata Ninlapruek, expressed excitement, noting that the fight for rights had taken over a decade but was finally bearing fruit.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra also celebrated the event on X, posting: “Congratulations on everyone’s love. #LoveWins.”
