On Thursday, hundreds of same-sex couples in Thailand are marrying as the country becomes the first in Southeast Asia to legalize marriage equality, according to media reports. Over 200 couples registered to marry at the Siam Paragon shopping center, an event organized by Bangkok Pride in collaboration with local authorities.
Approved by Thailand’s parliament and endorsed by the king in 2024, the new law grants same-sex couples the legal right to register their marriages, as well as full legal, financial, and medical rights, along with the right to adopt children and inherit property.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra praised the law in a recorded message at a mass wedding event in Bangkok, saying, “This marriage equality law marks the beginning of Thai society’s greater awareness of gender diversity, and our embrace of everyone regardless of sexual orientation, race, or religion – our affirmation that everyone is entitled to equal rights and dignity.”
Shinawatra celebrated the legalization as a historic achievement for equality and inclusion, acknowledging the LGBTQIA community’s long struggle for marriage equality. She referred to it as a “collective achievement from everyone’s efforts.”
On social media, she wrote, “23 January 2025 – the day of Love Triumphant! More than two decades of fighting to pass the #MarriageEquality law, and two decades of confronting prejudices and societal values, have finally brought us to this day. This victory is a collective achievement from everyone’s efforts, especially the LGBTQIA community, who led the movement to bring marriage equality into effect. Today, the rainbow flag is proudly flying over Thailand.”
Thailand’s groundbreaking marriage equality law was officially passed on September 24, 2024, and published in the Royal Gazette after being endorsed by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
