On Thursday, Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriage.
A law allowing same-sex marriages has come into force in Thailand. The law guarantees the same rights as heterosexual couples.
Thailand is the first country in Southeast Asia where the law allows same-sex marriages. Even in the whole of Asia, this is only possible in Nepal and Taiwan.
To celebrate the entry into force of the law, the Thai parliament pulled down the rainbow flags and the prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra took a group photo with dozens of married couples in front of the government palace.
Bangkok malls had planned Pride events to celebrate the law. In one luxury shopping mall, more than two hundred couples lined up for a wedding ceremony. Some were dressed in white wedding outfits, others in traditional Thai costumes.
– We have been together for 17 years, we met at school and experienced many adversities. I hope we will see more equality in the future, said Ploynaplus Chirasukonwho applied for a marriage license for his spouse Kwanporn Kongpetchin with.
LGBT organizations said they were aiming for 1,448 registrations on the first day. The number refers to the section of the law, in the text of which the words “husband and wife” were replaced by the word “spouse”.
AP, Reuters