Thailand's senate on Tuesday approved a bill to legalize same-sex marriage, setting it on course to become the third country in Asia with marriage equality, alongside Taiwan and Nepal, and the first country in Southeast Asia.
The bill, which was passed through the lower chamber from Thailand's legislature in March, still needs the endorsement of the country's King Maha Vajiralongkorn and publication in a government periodical before it is formally passed into law.
“Today, love overcomes prejudice,” Plaifah Kyoka Shodladd, 18, told The Associated Press.
Thailand's government said it would host a celebration of the bill's passage, and supporters were expected to march in Bangkok.
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The bill changes gender-specific terms in Thailand's marriage laws to gender-neutral ones, updating references to “husbands”, “wives”, “men” and “women” to “spouse” and “person”, reported The Guardian newspaper. Under the new law, married couples, regardless of their gender, will have equal rights in matters of inheritance, health care and adoption.
“Although Thailand has been known as gay paradise or queer paradise, it was never really the real paradise for queer people. But once we have this bill it will open so many doors,” Shodladd said, according to The Guardian .
“The Thai government must now focus on ensuring swift and effective implementation of this law to safeguard LGBTI+ rights,” human rights activist Mookdapa Yangyuenpradorn told the AP. “Marriage equality is fundamental to human dignity and it is essential that Thailand protect these rights without delay or discrimination.”
