Thailand's lower house of parliament has approved a bill to legalize same-sex marriage

Thailand's House of Representatives voted Wednesday in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage, moving the southeast Asian country closer to becoming the third territory in Asia to guarantee equal marriage rights.

The bill was passed by the lower house of parliament after the third and final reading, with 400 representatives voting in favor. Only 10 members spoke against the bill.

However, for marriage equality to exist, the bill still needs the Senate's approval and the king's backing, which could take several months. If the law is passed, Thailand will be the first country in Southeast Asia to recognize same-sex marriage as legal. It would also be the third place in Asia to allow marriage equality, after Taiwan legalized same-sex marriage in 2019 and Nepal in 2023.

"We are now writing a new Thai history that will change Thai society forever," Plaiphah Kioka Shodladd, a member of the change committee, told Parliament on Wednesday. "The social situation has changed and it is time for the law to match the current situation."

The same-sex marriage bill passed in the lower house on Wednesday was supported by all major political parties and is a significant step in cementing the country's reputation as one of the most gay, lesbian and transgender-friendly in the region. However, according to some members of the LGBTQ+ community, the reality is quite different.

They say laws prohibit discrimination, but they still often face prejudice and even violence in Thailand's conservative society.

Previous attempts to legalize same-sex marriage have proved difficult over the past decade. In 2020, Thailand's current law defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman was ruled constitutional by the Constitutional Court. Some major political parties that contested elections last year promised marriage equality as part of their campaign, including the progressive Forward Movement Party, which won the most seats. However, the party, which had a lot of support among young people, failed to form a government when some former rivals banded together to prevent it from taking office.

The future of the party itself and its popular leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, remains uncertain as they face a range of allegations. However, Thai Prime Minister Sredha Thavisin of the Peh Thai Party has also promised to submit a same-sex marriage bill to parliament. The prime minister, who has struck a deal with more conservative factions to form a government, is also reportedly backing Bangkok in its bid to host World Pride in 2028.