Thailand begins recognizing same-sex marriage

Twelve years ago, a Thai couple headed to the marriage registrar’s office to participate in a mass wedding on Valentine’s Day in Bangkok. Rungtiwa Thangkanopast wore a long white dress, and her partner Phanlavee Chongtangsattam wore a black tuxedo.

Officials welcomed them. But when they arrived at the registrar’s office and presented their ID cards, which showed that each of them was female, they were rejected. They were told that marriage between two women was not permitted.

On Thursday, the couple finally had the opportunity to marry under a new Thai law allowing same-sex marriage. They joined hundreds of others in a mass wedding in Bangkok as the law came into effect.

“I am happy and excited because we have been waiting for this day for a very long time,” Ms Rongtiwa said. “For 20 years, we loved each other and had to hide from societal disapproval. But now we can stand proud.”

The mass wedding ceremony began in the morning at Paragon Hall, an event and conference center in one of Bangkok’s largest shopping malls, Siam Paragon. It was hosted by a advocacy group called Naromit Pride, whose name roughly translates to creating pride.

Dozens of officials and dozens of journalists were on hand as the first wedding ceremonies began in a large charcoal gray hall, with pink arches decorated with flowers set as a backdrop for photos of the newlyweds. The couples were married one by one by officials who examined their documents and officially registered them as legally married.

“Today we feel safe and happy,” said Ploinaplus Chirasokon, 33, who married her partner, Kwanporn Kongpech, 32, in his first marriage at the event. “We are glad we played a role in getting the equal marriage law to this point.”

Other weddings are planned across the country, and organizers say they expect more than 1,000 same-sex couples to marry on the first day.

With the new law, Thailand becomes the first country in Southeast Asia – and only the third in Asia after Taiwan and Nepal – to allow people of the same sex to marry each other.

Thailand is widely viewed by foreigners as one of the most open places in the world for gay people, but it took more than a decade of campaigning to legalize same-sex marriage. Many citizens of this traditional, predominantly Buddhist country remain conservative, especially the elderly. However, it has become increasingly tolerant regarding social issues, especially in contrast to its neighbours.

In 2022, Thailand became the first country in the region to legalize the sale and recreational use of marijuana. the government Donate 1 million marijuana plants For families as the law enters into force. Since then, hundreds of weed shops have sprung up in urban areas. Last year, Parliament passed the marriage legislation, which became law with the king’s approval.

To celebrate the law, Thai Prime Minister Baitongtarn Shinawatra supervised a color photo shoot last week with dozens of couples planning to get married.

“January. “September 23, 2025 will be the day we record history together, as the rainbow flag will be gracefully planted in Thailand,” she said. On her Instagram account. “The love of all is legally recognized with honor and dignity.”

Thailand, whose economy relies heavily on tourism, plans to begin promoting itself internationally as a gay tourism destination.

Among those planning to marry in the Bangkok ceremony were Amnad Sanghong, a manager at an import-export company, and Avinon Manasang, a graphic designer, who have been together for 14 years.

Like many other couples, Mr. Amnad, 42, and Mr. Avinon, 37, are motivated to marry to gain full legal rights, including the right to make health care decisions for a loved one, and to receive the benefit of Thailand’s adoption and inheritance laws. .

They came to Bangkok to be part of the first-day celebration and will have another wedding with family and friends when they return home in Prachinburi province, about 70 miles northeast of the city.

“Our families are very excited because they never expected that we would be able to get married,” Mr. Avignon said.

In 2013, when Ms Rongtiwa, 59, and Ms Phanlavi, 44, were turned away from the wedding, few Thais were in favor of same-sex marriage.

“No one at that time had the courage to come out and demand their rights,” Ms. Vanlavy said. “The costumes were just a symbol because we knew we wouldn’t be allowed to sign up. They were a symbol of saying we were life partners.”

Their quest for marriage began with a fear for the health of the family that made them realize that they lacked the legal right to allow care to those they considered immediate family members.

After that, they started trying to obtain their rights through various legal maneuvers.

Their daughter, Chomchanok Thangkanobast, was born 24 years ago to Ms Rongtiwa and her then husband, who has since died. They knew when they got married that they were gay. They both wanted a child.

A few years later, Ms. Rongtiwa met Ms. Vanlavi and fell in love with her. They began living together, and although they both considered Ms. Chomchanok to be their daughter, Ms. Vanlavy did not have parental rights. The couple came up with an ambiguous solution: Ms Rongtiwa’s mother adopted Ms Vanlavi, making her a sister to her partner and an aunt to their daughter.

When Ms. Chomchanok turned 20, Ms. Vanlavy adopted her without legal obstacles.

“I’m still the aunt, but I’m also the mother,” Mrs. Vanlavy said.

Now, with the opportunity to marry, their lives will be much easier, at least legally.

“Although society will not accept us, at least the law will accept us,” Ms. Rongtiwa said.