1,800 Couples Married... Thailand Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage

by Kim Hyunjeong1

Published 24 Jan.2025 17:53(KST)

"Partners Granted Equal Rights in Joint Assets, Tax Obligations, Deductions, and Inheritance"

On the first day that Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage, more than 1,800 couples were married amid celebrations. Hundreds of LGBTQ+ couples held life-changing ceremonies.

With the enactment of the same-sex marriage legalization law, Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia and the third in Asia, following Taiwan and Nepal, to legalize same-sex marriage.

On the 23rd, the first day same-sex marriage was legalized in Thailand (local time), a male same-sex couple is entering an event venue in Bangkok, Thailand. Photo by AP Yonhap News

According to Yonhap News Agency citing local media on the 24th, approximately 1,832 same-sex couples registered their marriages with authorities in Thailand following the legalization of same-sex marriage.

At administrative offices such as district offices nationwide, lines of same-sex couples registering their marriages and receiving marriage certificates for commemorative photos continued. More than 1,000 couples registered at local offices. At Siam Paragon, a large shopping mall in Bangkok, the “Marriage Equality Day” event hosted by Bangkok City and the LGBTQ+ organization Bangkok Pride was held all day, with at least 190 same-sex couples holding wedding ceremonies.

On the 23rd, the first day same-sex marriage was legalized in Thailand (local time), a female same-sex couple is entering an event venue in Bangkok, Thailand. Photo by AP Yonhap News

At the event, newlyweds marched on a rainbow-colored carpet symbolizing LGBTQ, escorted by former Prime Minister Seta Tawisin, as they entered the venue.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Chinnawath declared in a video message, “From now on, all love will be recognized by law,” adding, “All couples will live with honor and dignity in Thailand.” On her social media, Prime Minister Paetongtarn also wrote, “Today, the rainbow flag proudly flies over Thailand.”

Former Prime Minister Seta also said, “Recently, a leader of a country said ‘there are only two genders,’ but I believe we have a more open mind than that,” targeting U.S. President Donald Trump. President Trump recently stated that “there will only be two genders, male and female” in the United States.

At the Bangrak District Office in Bangkok, Thanaphon Chokongsong (59, female), who married Sumalee Sudsainet (64, female), told AFP, “I am really happy. I have been waiting for this day for 10 years.” Sumalee also said, “The legalization of same-sex marriage has elevated our dignity. We can now enjoy the same rights as heterosexual couples,” adding, “My feelings today are so overwhelming that I cannot express them in words.”

Activists successfully lobbied for the amendment of Article 1448 of the Civil and Commercial Code and hope that at least 1,448 same-sex marriages will take place nationwide on the 23rd. The new marriage equality law replaced gender-specific terms such as “man and woman” and “husband and wife” with gender-neutral terms like “two individuals” and “spouse,” allowing anyone aged 18 or older to register their marriage regardless of gender. Other rights such as inheritance, adoption, and tax deductions were also granted equally to same-sex couples as to heterosexual couples.