Thailand has become the first Southeast Asian nation to legalize same-sex marriage, with the Marriage Equality Act taking effect on January 23, 2025.
This landmark legislation grants LGBTQ+ couples the same legal rights as heterosexual couples, including asset management, inheritance, adoption, and medical decision-making authority.
On the day the law was enacted, over 1,800 same-sex couples across Thailand registered their marriages.
In Bangkok alone, 654 couples celebrated their unions, with significant events held at venues like Siam Paragon mall, where more than 100 couples tied the knot.
This achievement is the culmination of a two-decade-long campaign by activists striving for marriage equality.
Despite this progress, advocates acknowledge that further efforts are needed to amend existing laws that are not yet gender-neutral.
Thailand's recognition of same-sex marriage distinguishes it within Asia, joining Taiwan and Nepal as the only countries in the region to have legalized such unions.