Thailand has made history as its Senate has voted to approve a bill legalizing same-sex marriage. The country became the first nation in Southeast Asia to approve the law, reflecting its welcoming attitude towards supporting the LBGTQ community despite some historical challenges.
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The bill advocated for comprehensive legal, financial, and medical rights for marriage partners regardless of gender and received support from the House of Representatives, where it passed with an overwhelming majority in April. According to the Associated Press, the final Senate reading secured approval from 132 of the 152 senators present, overcoming minor opposition and abstentions. This decision led to the Civil and Commercial Code amendment to acknowledge gender-neutral language, replacing traditional terms such as “men and women” with “individuals.”
However, the bill did meet with some criticisms. Retired army Gen. Worapong Sa-nganet argued for the retention of gender-specific terms alongside the new, inclusive language, citing concerns over the potential erasure of traditional family structures. However, the bill was also a victory for diversity and human rights.
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Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was absent due to health reasons, he expressed his support online, emphasizing the theme of “unity in diversity” within Thai society.
“I am proud of the collective effort of all stakeholders which reiterates the power of ‘unity in diversity’ of the Thai society. We will continue our fight for social rights for all people regardless of their status,”
Mookdapa Yangyuenpradorn of the human rights organization Fortify Rights said the government must make adequate and swift changes to secure rights for the LBGTQA+ community as equality is fundamental for human rights.
“The Thai government must now focus on ensuring swift and effective implementation of this law to safeguard LGBTI+ rights. Marriage equality is fundamental to human dignity, and it is essential that Thailand protects these rights without delay or discrimination.”
