Bangkok. Thailand's historic marriage equality bill was officially enacted on Tuesday, allowing same-sex couples to legally wed. The law was published in the Royal Gazette following endorsement by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, and it will take effect in 120 days, enabling LGBTQ+ couples to register their marriages starting in January. With this legislation, Thailand joins Taiwan and Nepal as the third Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage.

The bill, which grants full legal, financial, and medical rights to marriage partners of any gender, successfully passed through both the House of Representatives and the Senate in April and June, respectively. "Congratulations to everyone's love," Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra tweeted, accompanied by the hashtag #LoveWins.

Despite Thailand's reputation for acceptance and inclusivity, the journey to marriage equality has been fraught with challenges, as the country has grappled with conservative societal values and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community. Advocacy for gender equality has faced resistance from both the government and state agencies.

Bangkok Deputy Governor Sanon Wangsrangboon confirmed last week that city officials will be prepared to register same-sex marriages as soon as the law is enacted. The legislation modifies the Civil and Commercial Code, replacing gender-specific terms like "men and women" with gender-neutral language such as "individual."

The ruling Pheu Thai party has made marriage equality a key objective, aligning itself with the annual Bangkok Pride parade in June, where thousands celebrate in one of the city’s busiest areas. The organizers of Bangkok Pride announced on Facebook that they will host a wedding event for couples wishing to register their marriages on the first day the law takes effect.

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