Thailand’s senate passes landmark marriage equality invoice

Thailand’s senate handed a invoice Tuesday to legalize same-sex marriage, setting it heading in the right direction to turn into the third place in Asia with marriage equality, alongside Taiwan and Nepal, and the primary nation in Southeast Asia. 

The invoice, which was handed by the decrease home of Thailand’s legislature in March, nonetheless wants the endorsement of the nation’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn, and publication in a authorities periodical, earlier than it’s formally handed into legislation.

“Today, love trumps prejudice,” Plaifah Kyoka Shodladd, 18, informed The Associated Press.

Thailand’s authorities stated it might host a celebration of the passage of the invoice, and supporters had been anticipated to march via Bangkok.

The invoice adjustments gender-specific phrases in Thailand’s marriage legal guidelines to gender impartial ones, updating references to “husbands,” “wives,” “males,” and “ladies” to “partner” and “particular person,” The Guardian newspaper reported. Under the brand new legislation, married {couples}, regardless of their gender, may have the identical rights by way of inheritance, well being care and adoption.

“Although Thailand has been generally known as the homosexual paradise or the queer paradise, it was by no means actually the precise paradise for queer folks. But as soon as we’ve this invoice it can open so many doorways,” Shodladd stated, based on The Guardian.

“The Thai authorities should now deal with making certain swift and efficient implementation of this legislation to safeguard LGBTI+ rights,” human rights activist Mookdapa Yangyuenpradorn informed the AP. “Marriage equality is key to human dignity, and it’s important that Thailand protects these rights directly or discrimination.”