The bill had the support of all of Thailand's major parties and
was more than a decade in the making. It still requires approval
from the Senate and endorsement from the king before it becomes
law and would take effect 120 days later.
The legislation was passed by 400 of the 415 lawmakers present,
with only 10 voting against it and could see Thailand join
Taiwan and Nepal in allowing same-sex unions.
"We did this for all Thai people to reduce disparity in society
and start creating equality," Danuphorn Punnakanta, chairman of
the parliamentary committee on the draft bill, told lawmakers
ahead of the reading.
"I want to invite you all to make history."
The bill's passage marks a significant step towards cementing
Thailand's position as one of Asia's most liberal countries on
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues, with openness and
progressive attitudes coexisting in society alongside
traditional, conservative Buddhist values.
Thailand has long been a draw for same-sex couples, with a
vibrant and visible LGBT social scene for locals and
expatriates, and targeted campaigns to attract LGBT travellers.
EQUAL RIGHTS GUARANTEED
But rights activists have long maintained its laws and
institutions do not reflect changing social attitudes and still
discriminate against LGBT people and same-sex couples.
The legislation passed on Wednesday is the consolidation of four
different draft bills and recognises marriage between two people
regardless of gender, rather than a husband and wife as
previously defined.
It grants a couple full rights of a married couple under the
country's civil and commercial code, including those concerning
inheritance and adopting children.
The Constitutional Court had in 2021 ruled Thailand's current
marriage law, which only recognises heterosexual couples, was
constitutional, recommending legislation be expanded to ensure
rights of other genders.
Nada Chaiyajit, an LGBT advocate and a law lecturer at Mae Fah
Luang University, said the passing of the bill was a positive
step but there were some unresolved issues.
LGBT advocates who were on the parliamentary committee had
during Wednesday's debate pushed unsuccessfully for the terms
"father" and "mother" to be changed to the gender-neutral
"parent" in references to the family unit, to avoid
complications in issues such as adoption.
"I'm happy indeed but this isn't a full marriage equality, it is
only same-sex marriage," Nada said. "The right to marriage has
been granted but not the full right to family establishment.
"It is a shame that we didn't go the full way."
(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um; Editing by Martin Petty and Miral
Fahmy)
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