On Thursday, Thailand is poised to witness a historic moment as hundreds of same-sex couples embark on their journey of matrimony, making the nation the pioneering voice for marriage equality in Southeast Asia. This landmark legislation signifies a triumphant victory for the LGBTQ+ community, who have relentlessly advocated for over a decade to secure the same marital rights as heterosexual partners. "Thailand stands as a beacon for the globe, embodying true marriage equality," exclaimed Kittinun Daramadhaj, a legal advocate and president of the Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand, among the stalwarts championing equality.
Under the newly enacted law, greenlit by Thailand's parliament and sanctioned by the monarch last year, same-sex unions will gain full legal recognition, entitling couples to equivalent financial, medical, adoption, and inheritance privileges. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra celebrated this milestone at a gathering last week, inviting numerous LGBTQ+ couples and activists to the governmental premises. "This underscores Thailand's openness and embrace of diversity in all its forms. Today, we affirm our country's inclusiveness," she proclaimed.
Festivities will resonate across the nation, spanning from the coastal metropolis of Pattaya in the east to the mountainous northern hub of Chiang Mai. In Bangkok's heart, Bangkok Pride, in collaboration with local authorities, has organized a grand wedding extravaganza at a trendy shopping mall, where at least 200 couples have enrolled to tie the knot collectively. The cityscape will be adorned with fluttering rainbow flags, and a "pride carpet" will unfurl to welcome the newlyweds amidst celebrity performances and drag queen shows.
For individuals like Nina Chetniphat Chuadkhunthod, attending the jubilant celebration at Siam Paragon, this day marks a long-awaited milestone. Despite being in a 22-year-long relationship with her boyfriend, the transgender woman could not legally marry due to the inability to change her gender identity. However, with same-sex marriage now acknowledged, their union is finally within reach. "It feels surreal; my dream is almost fulfilled," the 42-year-old shared with CNN in a recent interview, brimming with anticipation.
Three weeks prior, Chuadkhunthod and her fiancée celebrated their nuptials at a wedding hall nestled on the fringes of Bangkok. As they descended the aisle, arm in arm, a trail of rose petals marked their path, sprinkled by the bridesmaids amidst the jubilant cheers of friends and family. Their marriage registration is scheduled for Thursday.
"It was the pinnacle of my life's pride, to embark on this journey and share it with the world, letting the industry and my circle of friends know that I could indeed do it," she expressed with emotion.
An added sense of urgency for the couple stems from a seven-year-old girl they have nurtured as their daughter for the past three years. She is the offspring of Chuadkhunthod's uncle, who is unable to provide her with the care she needs. They aspire to formally adopt her and build a life together as a family, yet this endeavor is contingent upon their legal marriage.
"Tears streamed down my face as we pondered our fate without the recognition of same-sex marriage. What if illness struck me, my partner, or even our daughter? Who would be there for us in our time of need?" she recounted with a hint of melancholy.
Now, however, her demeanor is one of confidence. "I can assert with certainty that I have the power to forge my own family," she stated with resolve.
Ana Boncan, a Filipino national, met her Thai sweetheart Siri Wattanavikij through a dating app six years ago during her European sojourn. In 2020, Boncan relocated to Bangkok to be with Siri.
"The opportunity to legally wed here in Thailand affords us the chance to procure a marriage visa," Boncan elaborated.
A pressing concern for the couple is the possibility of one falling ill, with the other potentially being restricted from visiting or making crucial medical decisions due to the absence of a marriage certificate.
"When we enter a hospital, I can confidently assert that this is my wife, my partner, the one who makes decisions for me. Unlike before, the hospital staff would not have accepted it," Boncan recounted.
However, rights experts caution that Thailand might remain the last Asian jurisdiction to recognize same-sex marriage for some time, given the gradual progress elsewhere in the region.
According to the Pew Research Center, over 30 jurisdictions globally now acknowledge same-sex marriage, with most advancements occurring in Europe, the Americas, and Australasia. Thailand follows Taiwan (2019) and Nepal (2023) as the third Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage.
Back in Thailand, the struggle for equal rights persists for other sexual minorities, particularly transgender individuals. Hua Boonyapisomparn, an advocate from the Foundation of Transgender Alliance for Human Rights, asserts that the next benchmark for the Thai government is to permit transgender individuals to legally change their gender identity.
Thailand is estimated to be home to 314,000 transgender people, according to the Asia Pacific Transgender Network. Despite the perception that transgender individuals are widely accepted in Thailand, partly due to the accessibility of gender-affirming surgeries and the prominence of transgender entertainers, local transgender individuals, including Chuadkhunthod, attest to the daily discrimination they endure.
"Even now, as Thai people, we are still viewed with contempt, seen as a joke. They laugh and smile, nudging each other while staring at us," she lamented.
Last February, during the previous military-backed government led by Prayut Chan-o-cha, the Thai parliament rejected a proposed gender recognition bill. Activists are now vigilantly striving to reintroduce it into the political discourse.
"We must seize the momentum of marriage equality to open another door for gender recognition," Boonyapisomparn emphasized.
