Thailand’s Lower House easily approved the final reading of the historic same-sex marriage law today, making Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia, and the third country in Asia, to acknowledge same-sex marriage, once it passes the Senate.
The bill, which aims to modify the Civil and Commercial Code, was supported by 400 votes to 10, with two abstentions and three MPs who chose not to vote.
Danuporn Punnakan, Pheu Thai list MP and chair of the House scrutiny committee, informed parliament that the legislation is intended for all Thais, irrespective of gender.
According to Danuporn, under the law, same-sex couples who wish to become engaged or married must be at least 18 years old, in order to prevent minors from being coerced into marriage, which is in line with the convention on the protection of the rights of children.
He also mentioned that the House scrutiny committee included a provision in the bill outlining the rights, responsibilities, and legal status of same-sex couples in forming a family.
He guaranteed that the current rights of men and women in general will not be impacted by this law, but it will safeguard a specific group of people, identified as LGBTQ.
He revealed that a minority of the House scrutiny committee had suggested a new term, “first parents”, to be included in the bill, but this proposal was rejected by the majority of the committee on the basis that the term is new and lacks a legal definition at present.
The Pheu Thai MP highlighted that it is now widely acknowledged that there exist more than the male and female genders in societies, as some individuals who were born as a boy or a girl desire to select their own gender as they grow older.
According to Danuporn, the law does not grant them any additional rights, but rather reinstates their basic rights, and he added that the law will signify the start of the establishment of equality in Thai society.
The bill must receive approval from the Senate before it can be enacted. In Asia, Taiwan and Nepal already have similar laws.
