In Thailand, the parliament approved a marriage equality bill, which – if/when passed – will make the country only the third Asian territory to legalize LGBTQIA unions. The bill still requires approval from the Senate, as well as an endorsement from the king before it becomes law; it would take effect 120 days later.
The bill is actually a consolidation of four different draft bills that recognize marriage between two people regardless of gender, rather than a husband and wife as previously defined. It grants couples all the rights of a married couple under the country’s civil and commercial code, including inheritance and adoption.
In 2021, Thailand’s Constitutional Court ruled that the country’s existing marriage law, though only recognizing heterosexual couples, was constitutional. However, recognizing that the law was discriminatory, it recommended the expansion of legislation to ensure the rights of other genders.
The legislation was passed by 400 of the 415 lawmakers present, and only 10 voted against it.
In Asia, Taiwan and Nepal already legalized marriage equality.
