LGBTQ+ couples in Thailand register marriages on first day of law giving them equal status

LGBTQ+ couples and members of the community celebrate the marriage equality bill in Bangkok. (Courtesy: Reuters photo)

Hundreds of LGBTQ+ couples in Thailand are expected to make their wedded status legal on Thursday, the first day a law took effect granting them the same rights as heterosexual couples.

The enactment of the Marriage Equality Act makes Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia and the third in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage, after Taiwan and Nepal.

Marriage registration is customarily done at district offices, but on Thursday, around 300 couples are expected to complete the formalities at a daylong gala celebration in an exhibition hall at a shopping mall in central Bangkok.

Hundreds more are predicted to register in less fancy circumstances around the country.

The marriage equality bill, which sailed through both houses of parliament, amended the Civil and Commercial Code to change the words "men and women" and "husband and wife" to "individuals" and "marriage partners".

It is supposed to open up access to full legal, financial and medical rights for LGBTQ+ couples.

Partners will have equal rights and responsibilities in dealing with joint assets, tax obligations and deductions, inheritance rights and survivor benefits.

Thailand has a reputation for acceptance and inclusivity, and thousands of people from around the world attend the annual Bangkok Pride parade. But rights advocates have struggled for decades to pass a marriage equality law in a largely conservative society where members of the LGBTQ+ community say they face discrimination in everyday life, although they note that things have improved greatly in recent years.

Couples interviewed earlier this month by The Associated Press expressed happiness with the new law, even those already settled in contented long-term relationships.

"The enforcement of the marriage equality law is proof that regardless of our gender, we all share the same basic human rights in every aspect under Thai law," said Kullayahnut Akkharasretthabudh, 38, a real-estate owner whose partner is Juthatip Suttiwong, 24, a chef.

"It also paves the way for other countries in Asia, highlighting the importance of recognising each other's human values and enabling everyone to live." Patherine Khunnares, 37, a web designer, said she and researcher Vivian Chullamon, 36, "have a supportive social circle, friends, and family who accept us for who we are and accept the person we love. Marriage, it seems, isn't everything that fulfils us emotionally..

"However, ultimately, we believe that as two human beings, we should be granted the same basic legal rights as heterosexual couples. We are a complete family in spirit, but legal recognition would alleviate our future anxieties. In the end, we aren't asking for anything special -- we just want a simple, happy family life." Bangkok's city government has said that it organised workshops for staff of all its district offices who are in charge of handling marriage registration.

They included lectures raising awareness about gender diversity and guidance on how to properly communicate with those who come for the service. The Interior Ministry has offered similar guidance.

"It's like a missing piece of the jigsaw," Bangkok Deputy Governor Sanon Wangsrangboon said at one of the workshops earlier this month.

"Society is ready. The law is getting ready. But the last piece of the jigsaw is the understanding from officials."