Thailand: Lower house passes bill to legalise same-sex marriage

Thailand’s House of Representatives, the decrease house of the nation, on Wednesday (March 27, 2024) voted to legitimise same-sex marriage.

Before the step turns into legislation, it wants approval from the Senate and royal endorsement.

If the following steps are accredited then Thailand will develop into the primary and solely South East Asian nation to legalise same-sex marriage.

The decrease house of parliament handed the bill following a 3rd and closing studying, with 400 representatives voting in favor. Only 10 members opposed the bill, reported CNN.

Thailand could develop into the one third nation in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage after Taiwan did the identical in 2019 and Nepal in 2023.

“We are actually writing a brand new Thai historical past that can change Thai society ceaselessly,” Plaifah Kyoka Shodladd, a member of the modification committee instructed parliament Wednesday as quoted by CNN.

Can these couple undertake kids?

Under the legislation, married same-sex {couples} can even undertake kids. However, the decrease house didn’t undertake the committee’s suggestion to use the time period “dad and mom” as an alternative of “fathers and moms”, reported BBC.

Phisit Sirihirunchai, a 35-year-old brazenly homosexual police officer stated he was maintaining his fingers crossed as he noticed legislators debate over the difficulty within the Parliament.

Reaction

“I’m glad and already excited that it’s actually going to occur. I’m coming nearer and nearer to seeing my desires come true,” Phisit Sirihirunchai instructed BBC.

Tunyawaj Kamolwongwat, a homosexual MP from the opposition Move Forward get together who has been campaigning for marriage equality up to now decade, instructed the British media: “I really feel that equality has occurred in the present day. It’s a historic day for the Thai parliament that stands to combat for the rights of LGBTQI+.”

Several Thai political events have been supporting recognising same-sex unions as a part of their marketing campaign earlier than final yr’s polls.

Prime Minister Sretta Thavisin was additionally supporting the step since coming to energy final yr.

The PM posted on X: “It may be very gratifying. Today, the House of Representatives has handed a decision on the Marriage Equality Bill within the third agenda, prepared to proceed to the following stage within the Senate.”

“The passing of the decision accredited by the House of Representatives in the present day is taken into account to be the satisfaction of the Thai society that’s shifting collectively in the direction of a society of equality and respect for variety,” he stated.