Thailand Becomes First Southeast Asian Country to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage

Thailand’s king has signed a marriage equality bill into law, making the country the first in Southeast Asia to recognize same-sex unions.

The bill cleared the Senate in June but required royal endorsement to become law. It was published in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday and will come into effect on 22 January next year.

Activists hailed the move as historic – it marks the culmination of years of campaigning for marriage equality.

Thailand has long been seen as a relative haven for the LGBTQ+ community in a region where such attitudes are rare.