Thailand Legalises Same-Sex Marriage

On the 23rd of January, Thailand legalised same-sex marriage becoming the third country in Asia to do so after Taiwan and Nepal. 

Thailand’s LGBTQ community marked the occasion with over 1,000 marriage registrations in one day. 

The Marriage Equality Act came into law on the 23rd of January after decades of campaigning by Thai LGBTQ activists. 

At a mass wedding in Bangkok more than 200 couples married in a luxury retail mall. 

Organisers for these events plan to compile figures from ceremonies nationwide and submit a request to Guinness World Records to recognise Thailand as holder of the world's largest number of same-sex marriage registrations in a single day. 

Former Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on the day that "Equal marriage has truly become possible with the power of all". 

The same-sex marriage law is expected to create more momentum for greater inclusion of LGBTQ people in Thailand. 

However, other regulations like building a legally recognised family remain a challenge for some couples. 

The definition of family - a father being a man and a mother being a woman - remains in the Thai legal code.  

Bangkok Pride organiser Adcharaporn Thongchalaem said "This event shows that many LGBT couples want this certificate. It's a symbol that Thailand is ready for change towards equality. Same-sex marriage is just the first step."