Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Thailand
The law grants same-sex spouses the same rights as married heterosexual couples


What happened
Hundreds of same-sex couples are gathering at a luxury mall in Bangkok Thursday to get married under Thailand's new marriage equality law. The legislation, which took effect Thursday morning, grants same-sex spouses the same legal, financial and medical rights as married heterosexual couples.
Who said what
Thailand is the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriage and the third in Asia, after Nepal and Taiwan. The Marriage Equality Act changed "the words 'men and women' and 'husband and wife' to 'individuals' and 'marriage partners'" in the relevant civil code, The Associated Press said. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said on social media that the "rainbow flag has been planted gracefully in Thailand."
The "easygoing" Southeast Asian country is "famously open to and accepting of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people," and the "Buddhist beliefs followed by more than 90% of Thais don't forbid LGBT lifestyles," the BBC said. But enshrining same-sex marriage took a long and "determined campaign to change attitudes in Thai officialdom and society," and few other Asian nations are "likely to follow suit."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What next?
Thailand plans to use the new law as a boost to its tourism-dependent economy, "promoting itself internationally as an LGBTQ tourist destination," The New York Times said.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Will California’s Proposition 50 kill gerrymandering reform?
Talking Points Or is opposing Trump the greater priority for voters?
-
‘The trickle of shutdowns could soon become a flood’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Wikipedia: Is ‘neutrality’ still possible?
Feature Wikipedia struggles to stay neutral as conservatives accuse the site of being left-leaning
-
Proposed Trump-Putin talks in Budapest on hold
Speed Read Trump apparently has no concrete plans to meet with Putin for Ukraine peace talks
-
Bolivia elects centrist over far-right presidential rival
Speed Read Relative political unknown Rodrigo Paz, a centrist senator, was elected president
-
Madagascar president in hiding, refuses to resign
Speed Read Andry Rajoelina fled the country amid Gen Z protests and unrest
-
Israel, Hamas agree to first step of Trump peace plan
Speed Read Israel’s military pulls back in Gaza amid prisoner exchange
-
Israel intercepts 2nd Gaza aid flotilla in a week
Speed Read The Israeli military intercepted a flotilla of nine boats with 145 activists aboard along with medical and food aid
-
Japan poised to get first woman prime minister
Speed Read The ruling Liberal Democratic Party elected former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi
-
Israel and Hamas meet on hostages, Trump’s plan
Speed Read Hamas accepted the general terms of Trump’s 20-point plan, including the release of all remaining hostages
-
US tipped to help Kyiv strike Russian energy sites
Speed Read Trump has approved providing Ukraine with intelligence for missile strikes on Russian energy infrastructure