Today, June 18th, the Thai Senate made a historic decision by approving the marriage equality bill. The third reading of the bill passed with 130 votes in favor, 4 against, and 18 abstentions. This makes Thailand the first country in the ASEAN region to have a marriage equality law and the 38th in the world.
The Act to Amend the Civil and Commercial Code, also known as the Marriage Equality Law
The meeting reviewed the draft Act to Amend the Civil and Commercial Code, or the Marriage Equality Law, in both the second and third readings. The committee, chaired by a member of the Senate, held 12 meetings to ensure a thorough and careful review of the bill.
During the review, the committee considered relevant information and documents, including comparative law tables and expert opinions. Although there were no amendments or reservations, it was noted that the bill focuses on engagement and marriage but does not cover family creation or the care of children by LGBTQ+ parents.
The bill stipulates that the marriage equality law will take effect within 120 days of being published in the Royal Gazette. Some senators disagreed, arguing it should take effect immediately. The committee clarified that the delayed implementation allows government agencies time to prepare for the enforcement of related laws.
Debate Among Senators
There was further debate among senators who opposed the changes in terminology, such as changing "husband and wife" to "spouses" and "persons" to "men and women" or "engaged persons." They argued that these changes undermine the traditional family structure and do not elevate LGBTQIA+ individuals to the same level as men and women but instead lower the status of men and women.
Ultimately, the Senate approved the Act to Amend the Civil and Commercial Code, or the Marriage Equality Law, in its third reading with 130 votes in favor, 4 against, and 18 abstentions. This milestone makes Thailand the first country in the ASEAN region to have a marriage equality law and the 38th in the world.
Sources and further reading
Primary and authoritative sources used for context and fact-checking.
- Frequently asked questions on sexual and gender diversity, health and human rights World Health Organization (WHO)
- Consolidated guidelines on HIV, viral hepatitis and STI for key populations (2022) World Health Organization (WHO)
- STI Treatment Guidelines: Transgender and Gender Diverse Persons U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Legal Gender Recognition in Thailand: A Legal and Policy Review United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- The struggle of trans and gender-diverse persons United Nations Human Rights (OHCHR)