The Thai senate voted to pass the final reading of the first marriage equality bill in Southeast Asia on Tuesday, meaning same-sex couples could be tying the knot in the country before the end of the year.
An overwhelming majority of lawmakers supported the bill, which passed by 130 votes to four (with 18 abstainers), AP reported.
After the vote took place, 18-year-old Plaifah Kyoka Shodladd, an author and member of a parliamentary committee on marriage equality, took the senate floor to express their gratitude. “Today, love trumps prejudice,” they said.
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The law now needs royal approval from King Maha Vajiralongkorn, which is expected. It will come into force 120 days after being published in the royal gazette, making Thailand the third territory in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage after Nepal and Taiwan.
The legislation will amend Thailand’s Civil and Commercial Code, replacing gender-specific words such as “men and women” with gender-neutral words like “individual.”
The country’s Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, posted his approval on X: “I am proud of the collective effort of all stakeholders, which reiterates the power of ‘unity in diversity’ of Thai society.” he wrote. “We will continue our fight for social rights for all people regardless of their status.”
