Thailand's king has officially enacted a marriage equality bill, making the country the first in Southeast Asia to recognize same-sex unions.
The bill, which passed the Senate in June 2024, needed the king’s approval to become law. It was published in the Royal Gazette on September 24 and will take effect on January 22 of the following year.
Activists celebrated this landmark decision as the result of years of advocacy for marriage equality.
The new legislation employs gender-neutral language instead of terms like "husbands," "wives," "men," and "women." It also provides same-sex couples with rights to adoption and inheritance.
“Today we’re not just signing marriage certificates; we’re making history by affirming that love knows no bounds,” said Ann Chumaporn, a veteran LGBTQ+ activist and co-founder of the Bangkok Pride movement, in an interview with the BBC. "This is a victory for equality and human dignity."