Earlier this month, Prime Minister of Thailand Srettha Thavisin announced that the Thai cabinet had approved a draft law on marriage equality to be brought to a vote during their parliament’s December session.
Thailand boasts one of Asia’s most visible LGBTQ+ communities, and Thai society has grown more accepting over the years. Recent studies have indicated that 92% of Thai people would accept an openly LGBTQ+ friend, colleague, or family member. However, political activists and community members point out that current Thai law and traditional institutions still are not reflecting the change in social attitudes and discriminate against LGBTQ+ people and same-gender couples.
Like a lot of the world, Thailand has a spotted history when it comes to queer rights. Consensual homosexuality was decriminalized in Thailand in 1956, nearly half a century before the U.S. Supreme Court would declare laws penalizing homosexuality unconstitutional. Although, same-gender relationships and the trans community would still face a great deal of stigma. The trans community in Thailand still face a great deal of scrutiny, and many trans women in Thailand feel they are forced to turn to sex work in order to survive.
In the 90s, the government reformed the Thai penal code, equalizing the age of consent and in 2002, the Ministry of Health announced it would no longer classify homosexuality as a mental illness.
In 2015, the Thai government enacted a comprehensive anti-discrimination law covering sexual orientation and gender identity. Furthermore, while Bangkok has consistently been named one of the most queer-friendly cities in Asia for its nightlife, openness, and safety, Thai LGBTQ+ activists have argued that these ratings don’t reflect the inequality the community still faces.
However, Thai parliament has continued to try and push for new laws to recognize the country’s LGBTQ+ community. Ahead of last year’s May elections, both the ruling Pheu Thai Party and its closest political rivals, the progressive Move Forward Party, campaigned on support for same-gender marriage and protect gender identity rights.
If parliament approves the draft law, it will receive royal assent, and Thailand would become Asia’s third country to fully recognize same-gender marriage, after Taiwan and Nepal. Last year, the Thai parliament held debates over four laws including civil unions for same-gender couples and marriage equality, but were unable to come to a final vote before the session ended.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin previously mentioned that he wants Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, to host the World Pride events in 2028.
