By Kocha Olarn and Chris Lau, CNN
Kevin Pethai Thanomket (left) and Maple pose for pictures after registering their same-sex marriage in Bangkok on Thursday, as scores of same-sex and transgender couples married in Thailand on January 23 as the kingdom's equal married following a law change. Photo: AFP/ Manan Vatsyayana
Hundreds of same-sex couples are tying the knot across Thailand as the country becomes the first in Southeast Asia to recognise marriage equality.
The landmark bill, which came into effect on Thursday, marks a momentous win for the LGBTQ+ community, which has fought for more than a decade for the same marriage rights as heterosexual couples.
"It's the happiest day of my life. We could finally and completely do what we have been wanting to do for a long time," Pisit Sirihiranchai told CNN, after marrying his partner of five years Chanathip Sirihiranchai.
"We are now a complete family."
Under the legislation, passed by Thailand's parliament and endorsed by the king last year, same-sex couples are able to register their marriages with full legal, financial, and medical rights, as well as adoption and inheritance rights.
"This marriage equality law marks the beginning of Thai society's greater awareness of gender diversity, and our embrace of everyone regardless of sexual orientation, race, or religion - our affirmation that everyone is entitled to equal rights and dignity," Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said in a recorded message played at a mass wedding in the capital Bangkok, on Thursday.
At least 200 couples signed up to get married at the Siam Paragon shopping centre, according to Bangkok Pride, which co-organised the event with local authorities.
A rainbow carpet was rolled out at the mall to welcome the newlyweds from all ages and walks of life, including police officer Sirihiranchai who turned up in uniform with his partner.
Among those to walk down the "pride carpet" was an elderly lesbian couple who toured the venue with former prime minister Srettha Thavisin to a backdrop of falling confetti and traditional Thai beats. Srettha's ruling Pheu Thai party backed the marriage bill.
Some embraced the full celebratory spirit by turning up in wedding suits and dresses. Others donned pink or white blazers and dresses. Many waved the rainbow flag.
Meanwhile, celebrities and drag queens performed on a stage adorned with rainbow hearts and flowers, with a screen proudly declaring, "marriage equality."
Celebrations were also taking place Thursday in other parts of the country, stretching from the eastern coastal city of Pattaya to the mountainous northern city of Chiang Mai.
Ahead of the festivities, equality campaigners hailed the new legislation as a victory for progression.
"This could be a model for the world, because we now have Thailand as a model," said Kittinun Daramadhaj, a lawyer and president of the Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand. "There is true marriage equality in Thailand."
A dream comes true
For some, such as Nina Chetniphat Chuadkhunthod, who was planning to attend the mass celebration at Siam Paragon, the day felt long overdue.
The transgender woman had not been able to marry her boyfriend of 22 years because she was unable to legally change her gender identity. But with same-sex marriage now being recognised, they can tie the knot.
"I feel like, wow, my dream is close to coming true," the 42-year-old told CNN during a recent interview.
Chuadkhunthod and her fiancée held their wedding party three weeks ago. At a wedding hall on the outskirts of Bangkok, the couple walked down the aisle in locked arms, as bridesmaids sprinkled their path with rose petals amid cheers from friends and relatives. They planned to register their marriage on Thursday.
"I felt the proudest moment of my life that I could do this and let people know, let the industry and friends around me know that I could do it," she said.
One factor adding particular urgency for the couple was the 7-year-old girl they have been raising as their daughter for three years. The girl is the daughter of Chuadkhunthod's uncle, who was unable to look after her.
They planned to adopt the girl and live a life as a family, but could not do so without a valid marriage.
"I had tears flowing from my eyes when we were thinking about our lives (without the same-sex marriage law). What if … I, or he, or even my daughter fell ill, who would look after us?" she said.
But now, she said: "I can confidently say that I can do it, building a family of my own."
Philippine national Ana Boncan met her Thai girlfriend Siri Wattanavikij through a dating app six years ago, when she was working in Europe. In 2020, Boncan moved to Bangkok to be with her.
"With this opportunity to get legally married here in Thailand, it gives us the opportunity to have a marriage visa," Boncan said.
One thing on the couple's mind is the possibility of one of them falling ill, and the other being barred from visiting or making life-and-death decisions due to the lack of a marriage certificate.
"When we go to the hospital, I can tell them that this is my wife, this is my partner, she makes decisions for me, things like that. Unlike before - they wouldn't accept it in the hospital," Boncan said.
The fight goes on
But rights experts have warned Thailand may well be the last Asian jurisdiction to recognise same-sex marriage for some time, given the incremental progress elsewhere in the region.
More than 30 jurisdictions worldwide now recognise same-sex marriage, according to the Pew Research Centre, but most advances have been made in Europe, the Americas and Australasia.
Thailand is the third in Asia to recognise same-sex marriage after Taiwan in 2019 and Nepal four years later.
Back in Thailand, the fight for equal rights continues for other sexual minorities, such as transgender people.
Rights advocate Hua Boonyapisomparn, from local advocacy group Foundation of Transgender Alliance for Human Rights, said the next milestone is for the Thai government to let transgender people change their gender identity.
The country is home to an estimated 314,000 trans people, according to the Asia Pacific Transgender Network.
There is a commonly held conception that trans people are widely embraced in Thailand, partly due to how accessible gender affirming surgery is in the country, and the prominence of trans entertainers.
But local transgender people, including Chuadkhunthod, would testify to the day-to-day discrimination they face.
"Even now, as a Thai person, they still look down on us, seeing us as a joke. They laugh and smile, nudging each other while looking at us," she said.
Thailand's parliament rejected a proposed gender recognition bill in February 2024 during the previous military-backed government led by Prayut Chan-o-cha. Activists are now trying to put it back on the political agenda.
"We should use marriage equality as an opportunity to open another door for gender recognition," Boonyapisomparn said.
- CNN
