This month, Thailand marked a historic milestone as the Thai cabinet approved the draft of the Civil Partnership Bill for legalizing same-sex unions. This makes Thailand the first southeast Asian country to approve same-sex marriage laws that align with LGBT rights. Anika Khan reports.
Followed by approval of this draft, the country is waiting for the government to ratify the draft. This will ensure to promote an equal society for everyone in the country.
Thailand will achieve a new milestone in gender equality and become the second country in Asia, after Taiwan, to legalize same-sex marriages. The approved bill gives greater rights to same-sex couples. Although the bill does not endorse same-sex marriage, it gives them the right to register their union under the state, own joined properties, legally adopt children, and pass down inheritances.
However, this news followed a strong resistance amongst the people who have called out the draft to be ‘fake equality’, claiming that the law does not endorse equality amongst the straight and LGBT group.
The bill does not grant same-sex couples with all the rights and benefits which are provided to heterosexual married couples. Same-sex couples will still be denied of spouse benefits, tax exemptions, social security benefits, medical care, and health benefits.
More than 4 million people in Thailand identify themselves as LGBTQ+. The communities have been driving movements to establish the same legal rights for over a decade. They have been issues of social stigma, facing discriminations and being subject to violence on a daily basis.
Once the bill goes through public hearing it will go to the Senates for another voting. The process may take many months to be fruitful.
