According to foreign media reports, the Thai cabinet approved the same-sex marriage bill on December 19 and sent it to the National Assembly, and the lower house of the National Assembly held a first reading on the 21st. If the bill is passed by Parliament and approved by the Thai royal family, Thailand will become the third Asian country and the first country in Southeast Asia to recognize same-sex marriage after Nepal and Taiwan.
According to reports, Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Songsa told Parliament: "In principle, this draft law aims to amend certain provisions in the civil code to open the way for betrothal and marriage of lovers, both men and women." This will provide in all respects equal rights, responsibilities and family status with men and women in marriage. ”
A grand LGBTQ pride parade was held in Bangkok, Thailand, June 4, 2023 Photo: Reuters.
Somsa said that the results of an earlier poll conducted in Thailand** showed that 96Six percent of respondents support the same-sex marriage bill.
The lower house of the Thai parliament considered the same-sex marriage bill last year, but it has not yet been approved, and the lower house of parliament is dissolved**. After Prime Minister Saita came to power this year, the new ** agreed in principle on November 21 to amend the law, changing the legal terms "male" and "female" to "individual", and "husband" and "wife" to "marital partner", so that same-sex couples can obtain the same marital rights as opposite-sex couples.
Saita said earlier that the bill would help strengthen Thailand's gender diversity and family structure, "allowing people to marry and enjoy the same rights and responsibilities as opposite-sex couples."
*: Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao, Reuters.
Editor: Zhong Shuangxia.