Thailand is officially the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise same-sex marriage

Thailand has officially passed the marriage equality bill, legalising same-sex marriage. Same sex couples will be able to get married as soon as January 2025. It’s official. It’s historic. It’s iconic.

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Thailand legalises same-sex marriage, becomes the first country in Southeast Asia to pass marriage equality bill

Late in the evening on 24 September, Thailand’s marriage equality bill was promulgated in the Royal Gazette. It stated that the law will come into effect in 120 days. This means that the first same-sex weddings can be expected to take place as soon as January 2025.

The law supports the marriage between two people, regardless of their gender identity. Under the new marriage equality law, they will also be granted rights to adoption and inheritance.

The legalisation of same-sex marriage in Thailand makes the country the first in Southeast Asia to do so, and the biggest country in all of Asia to recognise marriage equality. Other Asian countries that have legalised same-sex marriage are Taiwan and Nepal.

Thailand becomes one of only 30 countries worldwide to legalise same-sex marriage

Though long an LGBTQ-friendly destination, it has been a long journey to this moment. Very much a traditional and conservative society, the passing of the marriage equality bill signals a wind of change. At the time of writing, only 30 countries around the world have legalised same-sex marriages. The Netherlands became the first country to do so in only 2001.