Thailand Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage, Promotes Equality and Tourism

Tags: International News

Thailand's lower house of parliament approved a landmark bill legalizing gay marriage, making the country a leader in Southeast Asia in promoting equal rights.

An Overview of the News

• The bill, amending the Civil and Commercial Code, received overwhelming support in the House of Representatives.

Major Provisions of the Bill:

• The "Marriage Equality" bill has received overwhelming majority approval from the 500-member House of Representatives.

• 400 MPs voted in favour, while 10 opposed it, and after three hours of debate, five MPs abstained.

• The law allows same-sex partners aged 18 and over to register their marriages, giving them inheritance, tax benefits and child adoption rights.

• It modifies the legal definition of marriage from "one man and one woman" to "two persons" and changes the status from "husband and wife" to "married couple".

Impact and Importance:

• Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's administration is leading the bill, which aims to strengthen Thailand's reputation as an LGBTQ-friendly destination.

• Thailand joins Taiwan and Nepal as one of the few Asian regions to recognize same-sex marriage, joining around 40 other countries globally.

• Despite previous obstacles, such as a 2021 Constitutional Court decision and failed attempts at civil partnership recognition, LGBTQ activists have persisted in their quest for equality.

Tourism Promotion and Economic Implications:

• Legalizing same-sex marriage is expected to have a positive impact on tourism, which contributes significantly to Thailand's economy.

• Before the pandemic, LGBTQ tourism in Thailand generated approximately $6.5 billion, underscoring the potential economic benefits of this progressive legislation.