Thailand Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage
Thailand has approved same-sex marriage, becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to do so.
The landmark decision came after the nation’s Senate passed a marriage equality bill on Tuesday, June 18.
According to Al Jazeera, the bill received final approval with 130 votes in favor, four against, and 18 abstentions.
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The legislation now awaits royal assent from King Maha Vajiralongkorn and is expected to come into force 120 days after its publication in the official Royal Gazette.
Thailand will become the third place in Asia where same-sex couples have been legalised after Taiwan and Nepal although India came close in October but the Supreme Court referred the decision back to parliament.
Aljazeera also reports that the new legislation changes references to “men”, “women”, “husbands” and “wives” in marriage laws to gender-neutral terms.
It also gives same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual ones when it comes to adoption and inheritance.
