• About Us
  • Who Are We
  • Work With Us
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
No Result
View All Result
The Globe Post
39 °f
New York
44 ° Fri
46 ° Sat
40 ° Sun
41 ° Mon
No Result
View All Result
The Globe Post
No Result
View All Result
Home World

Nearly 2,000 LGBTQ Couples Wed as Thai Same-Sex Marriage Law Comes Into Force

Staff Writer with AFP by Staff Writer with AFP
01/23/25
in World
A couple shows their rings following their marriage during an event to mark the country's same-sex marriage law coming into effect in Bangkok, Thailand, on January 23, 2025.

A couple shows their rings following their marriage during an event to mark the country's same-sex marriage law coming into effect in Bangkok, Thailand, on January 23, 2025. Photo by Anusak Laowilas / NurPhoto via AFP

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Almost 2,000 same-sex and transgender couples married in Thailand on Thursday as the kingdom’s equal marriage law went into effect in a first for Southeast Asia.

Thailand is by far the biggest nation in Asia to recognise equal marriage. More than 30 countries have legalised marriage for all since the Netherlands became the first to allow same-sex unions in 2001.

There were hugs and tears of joy at more than 800 district offices across the country where 1,754 same-sex couples had tied the knot by 4:30 pm (09:30 GMT), according to the Ministry of the Interior.

Lesbian couple Sumalee Sudsaynet, 64, and Thanaphon Chokhongsung, 59, were the first to wed at Bangkok’s Bangrak district office, and the couple showed the media their engagement rings.

“We are so happy. We’ve been waiting for this day for 10 years,” said Thanaphon, wearing a white gown.

The couple met a decade ago through a mutual friend and bonded over their passion for Buddhism and religious merit-making.

“The legalization of same-sex marriage uplifts our dignity,” Sumalee told AFP.

“It allows us to enjoy the same rights as heterosexual couples. My emotions today are so overwhelming, I can’t even put them into words.”

Thailand has long had an international reputation for tolerance of the LGBTQ community, and opinion polls reported in local media have shown overwhelming public support for equal marriage.

At Siam Paragon mall in downtown Bangkok, dozens of couples dressed in traditional and contemporary wedding outfits trickled into a large hall for a mass wedding organised by campaign group Bangkok Pride with city authorities.

Officials helped the couples fill out marriage forms at rows of tables, an administrative step before they could collect their certificates.

Kevin Pehthai Thanomkhet, a 31-year-old trans man, married his wife, Maple Nathnicha Klintgaworn, 39.

“So happy, like, oh my god… my heart is beating,” said Kevin.

His 65-year-old father Phornchai added: “I have always accepted (him). Whatsoever, it is OK with me.”

The new marriage law uses gender-neutral terms in place of “men,” “women,” “husbands” and “wives,” also clearing the way for transgender people to wed, and grants adoption and inheritance rights to all married couples.

“Today, the rainbow flag is proudly flying over Thailand,” Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra posted on X.

Reputation for Tolerance

Thailand ranks highly on recent indexes measuring public attitudes towards LGBTQ people, but matching legal structures were absent before the kingdom passed the same-sex marriage bill in a historic parliamentary vote last June.

The law came into effect 120 days after it was ratified by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Thai activists have been pushing for same-sex marriage rights for more than a decade, with their advocacy stalled by political turbulence in a country regularly upended by coups and mass street protests.

Former Thai prime minister Srettha Thavisin, who attended Thursday’s mass wedding event, took an apparent swipe at newly inaugurated US President Donald Trump, who on Monday decreed there were only two genders.

“Recently a country’s leader said that there were only two genders, but I think we are more open-minded than that,” Srettha said.

Despite its reputation for tolerance, much of the Buddhist-majority kingdom retains traditional and conservative values and LGBTQ people say they still face barriers and discrimination in everyday life.

“In the past, LGBTQ people were seen as monstrosities,” said Ploynaplus Chirasukon, who married her lesbian partner of 17 years, Kwanporn Kongpetch.

She supports the push for gender identity recognition, including the right to change forms of address.

“People who don’t identify with their biological sex are like homeless people,” she said.

“The ability to be able to change our titles would allow for true equality.”

In matching beige suits, Apiwat “Porsch” Apiwatsayree, 49 – who was in tears – and Sappanyoo “Arm” Panatkool, 38, were handed their pink-bordered marriage certificates at a registry office in Bangkok.

“We fought for it for decades,” said Arm.

“Today is a remarkable day (celebrating) that love is love.”

ShareTweet
Staff Writer with AFP

Staff Writer with AFP

Related Posts

An Iranian protester
Featured

Iran’s Nuclear Program: From Its Origins to Today’s Dispute

by Staff Writer with AFP
June 23, 2025
Protesters and police clash during the “No Kings” protest in Los Angeles, California on June 14, 2025.
Democracy at Risk

US Appeals Court Allows Trump Control of National Guard in LA

by Staff Writer with AFP
June 20, 2025
Donald Trump
Opinion

Fact vs. Fiction: The Trump Administration’s Dubious War on Reverse Discrimination

by Kevin Cokley
June 18, 2025
Iranian missiles and Israeli interceptors light up the sky over Beirut, Lebanon, on June 14, 2025. Iran launched multiple missiles toward Israeli targets, triggering interception attempts above several regional capitals, including Beirut.
Featured

Israel-Iran Conflict: Latest Developments

by Staff Writer with AFP
June 18, 2025
Tens of thousands of protestors shut down Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on Saturday, April 5, 2025, protesting the Trump administration's abuse of the separation of federal powers as well as the deep cuts to governmental services overseen by presidential advisor Elon Musk.
Opinion

Civil Society Is Holding the Line. Will Washington Notice?

by Mandeep S. Tiwana
June 17, 2025
An Iranian walking in front of a wall painting of the Iranian flag in Tehran
Featured

How Much Damage Has Israel Inflicted on Iran’s Nuclear Program?

by Staff Writer with AFP
June 16, 2025
Next Post
A Palestinian stands on his property overlooking the Israeli settlement of Har Homa, West Bank, February 18, 2011. Photo: UPI/Debbie Hill

Hundreds Leave West Bank Camp During Israeli Raid: Palestinian Official

A woman from Guatemala

Dispatch From Central America

Please login to join discussion

Recommended

An Iranian protester

Iran’s Nuclear Program: From Its Origins to Today’s Dispute

June 23, 2025
Protesters and police clash during the “No Kings” protest in Los Angeles, California on June 14, 2025.

US Appeals Court Allows Trump Control of National Guard in LA

June 20, 2025
Donald Trump

Fact vs. Fiction: The Trump Administration’s Dubious War on Reverse Discrimination

June 18, 2025
Iranian missiles and Israeli interceptors light up the sky over Beirut, Lebanon, on June 14, 2025. Iran launched multiple missiles toward Israeli targets, triggering interception attempts above several regional capitals, including Beirut.

Israel-Iran Conflict: Latest Developments

June 18, 2025
Tens of thousands of protestors shut down Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on Saturday, April 5, 2025, protesting the Trump administration's abuse of the separation of federal powers as well as the deep cuts to governmental services overseen by presidential advisor Elon Musk.

Civil Society Is Holding the Line. Will Washington Notice?

June 17, 2025
An Iranian walking in front of a wall painting of the Iranian flag in Tehran

How Much Damage Has Israel Inflicted on Iran’s Nuclear Program?

June 16, 2025

Opinion

Donald Trump

Fact vs. Fiction: The Trump Administration’s Dubious War on Reverse Discrimination

June 18, 2025
Tens of thousands of protestors shut down Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on Saturday, April 5, 2025, protesting the Trump administration's abuse of the separation of federal powers as well as the deep cuts to governmental services overseen by presidential advisor Elon Musk.

Civil Society Is Holding the Line. Will Washington Notice?

June 17, 2025
A Black Lives Matter mural in New York City.

Fuhgeddaboudit! America’s Erasure of History

April 2, 2025
Bust of Deputy Rubens Paiva in the Chamber of Deputies

Democratic Brazilians Are Still Here

March 18, 2025
A woman from Guatemala

Dispatch From Central America

January 28, 2025
US President Donald Trump

Dear Trump Supporters: Is This the America You Wanted?

January 28, 2025
Facebook Twitter

Newsletter

Do you like our reporting?
SUBSCRIBE

About Us

The Globe Post

The Globe Post is part of Globe Post Media, a U.S. digital news organization that is publishing the world's best targeted news sites.

submit oped

© 2018 The Globe Post

No Result
View All Result
  • National
  • World
  • Business
  • Interviews
  • Lifestyle
  • Democracy at Risk
    • Media Freedom
  • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Columns
    • Book Reviews
    • Stage
  • Submit Op-ed

© 2018 The Globe Post