Nearly 2,000 couples tie the knot as Thailand approves same-sex marriage

Thailand made history Thursday as the first Southeast Asian nation to legalize same-sex marriage, with 1,832 LGBTQ+ couples registering their unions on the landmark day. At celebrations across the country, newly married partners expressed joy and hope for the future. “We can love, we love equally, legally,” said actor Sappanyoo “Arm” Panatkool, who married his partner and fellow actor Apiwat “Porsch” Apiwatsayree at a district office in Bangkok. The Marriage Equality Act amends Thailand’s Civil and Commercial Code to replace gendered terms with “individuals” and “marriage partners,” granting same-sex couples equal legal, financial and medical rights.

The milestone marks a significant shift in Asia, where Thailand joins only Taiwan and Nepal in recognizing same-sex marriages. While Thailand has a reputation for LGBTQ+ acceptance, advocates spent decades pushing for marriage equality in the largely conservative society. The contrast between Thailand’s progress and broader regional attitudes was highlighted by a Chinese citizen identified only as Zhang, who traveled to Thailand to celebrate with friends. “We’re excited, we’re also very jealous. Thailand is so close to China, but in another sense it’s so far away,” Zhang told the BBC, noting that same-sex marriage remains illegal across most of Asia.