Politics

Thailand’s parliament approves draft same-sex marriage bills

Bangkok, Dec 21 (EFE).- Thailand’s parliament on Thursday overwhelmingly approved four bills to legalize same-sex marriage on their first reading.

If passed, the bills would make Thailand the third country in Asia to legalize same-sex unions, after Taiwan and Nepal.

“I congratulate all LGBTQIA+ sisters and brothers that the Marriage Equality Act has been passed in the first reading by an overwhelming vote. Today, the first step of change has already begun,” prime minister Srettha Thavisin said on X (formerly Twitter).

“We are finally on the road to bridging the gap to equal rights for all today!” Srettha, who is a staunch supporter of LGTB+ rights, added in a second message published in English.

The bills, which had the support of both the government coalition and the opposition, were passed with 360 votes in favor and 10 against, with one abstention.

A parliamentary committee made up of 39 deputies will review the four bills for possible amendments, before the second and third readings.

If passed in their entirety, they will be sent to the Senate and the Constitutional Court for approval, before entering into force with the king’s signature, which could happen in mid-2024.

Thailand has one of the largest and most visible LGTBI communities in all of Asia, but activists argue that Thailand’s conservative laws do not reflect the changes and attitudes of society in recent decades.

“These bills and the debates in Parliament over them represent a moment of hope for LGBTI people’s rights in Asia, even though there is still much to be done for their full protection,” Amnesty International (AI) Thailand researcher Chanatip Tatiyakaroonwong said in a statement.

Last year, the Lower House debated several similar bills, but failed to pass any before parliament was dissolved prior to May’s elections. EFE

nbo-nc/ks

Related Articles

Back to top button