Same-sex couples in Thailand can register marriage from January next year.

Same-sex marriage will become legal in Thailand and take effect in January next year. By then, same-sex couples will be able to register for marriage legally. After the King of Thailand signed the bill, it was published in the Royal Gazette yesterday (the 25th) and will be officially implemented 120 days later. The new bill grants marriage partners of any gender full legal, financial and medical rights.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra posted on the social platform X to offer congratulations, saying "Congratulations to everyone's love", and added the hashtag #Love Wins.

This landmark bill was successfully passed in the House of Representatives and the Senate in April and June this year respectively. Although Thailand is known for its inclusiveness, it took decades of efforts on the road to passing the marriage equality bill. Thai society generally holds conservative values, and the LGBTQ+ community said that they still face discrimination in daily life.

The Thai government and state institutions have also been relatively conservative in history. Gender equality advocates have faced many challenges in pushing legislators and civil servants to accept changes. The new bill has amended the Thai Civil and Commercial Code, replacing specific gender terms like "men and women" with neutral terms like "individuals".

The government led by the Pheu Thai Party has listed marriage equality as one of its main goals. The government strongly supported the annual Bangkok Pride held in the busiest commercial district of Bangkok in June this year, and thousands of people participated in the celebration activities.

The organizers of the Bangkok Pride announced on Facebook that they will hold weddings for couples who wish to register for marriage on the first day when the law takes effect. The Deputy Mayor of Bangkok also said that once the law takes effect, municipal officials will be ready to register same-sex marriages.