Thailand First Southeast Nation To Legalise Same-Sex Marriage: "Love Wins Over Prejudice"

NDTV

18 Jun 202403:12

Summary

TLDRIn a historic move, Thailand's Senate has passed a marriage equality bill, making Thailand the first Southeast Asian nation to legalize same-sex marriage. The legislation, which grants equal legal, financial, and medical rights to all marriage partners regardless of gender, follows Taiwan and Nepal as the third Asian country to recognize such unions. The bill awaits royal endorsement and will become effective 120 days after its publication in the government Gazette, amending the civil and commercial code to use gender-neutral terms.

Takeaways

🏳️‍🌈 Thailand has legalized same-sex marriage, making it the first country in Southeast Asia to do so.
🌏 Thailand joins Taiwan and Nepal as the third country in Asia to recognize same-sex marriage.
🗳️ The marriage equality Bill passed its final reading in the Senate with 130 out of 152 members voting in favor.
🏛️ Despite historically conservative values held by the government and state agencies, the legislation was approved.
💍 The marriage equality Bill grants full legal, financial, and medical rights to marriage partners of any gender.
🤝 The law will need endorsement from the king before it can be enacted.
📅 The law is expected to come into effect within 120 days of its publication in the government Gazette.
📚 The legislation will amend Thailand's civil and commercial code, replacing gender-specific terms with gender-neutral terms.
🎉 The Thai government congratulates the LGBTQ+ community and all voices that have pushed for this legislation.
🌐 India's top court declined to grant legal recognition to same-sex marriages, leaving the decision to Parliament.

Q & A

What significant legislation has the Senate of Thailand passed?
-The Senate of Thailand has passed a historic marriage equality Bill, which is a monumental step forward for LGBTQ+ rights in the country.
What does this legislation mean for Thailand in the context of Southeast Asia?
-This legislation makes Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia to recognize same-sex marriage.
Which other Asian countries have legalized same-sex marriage before Thailand?
-Taiwan and Nepal are the two other Asian countries that have legalized same-sex marriage before Thailand.
How did India's top court respond to the issue of legal recognition for same-sex marriages?
-India's top court declined to grant legal recognition to same-sex marriages, stating that it should be decided by the Parliament.
What was the outcome of the vote in the Thai Senate for the marriage equality act?
-130 out of 152 Thai Senate members in attendance voted in favor of the marriage equality act.
What does the marriage equality Bill provide for marriage partners of any gender?
-The marriage equality Bill grants full legal, financial, and medical rights for marriage partners of any gender.
What is the next step for the marriage equality Bill after its approval by the Senate?
-The Bill needs endorsement from the King before it can become a reality.
How long does it take for the law to come into effect after its publication in the government Gazette?
-The law will come into effect within 120 days of its publication in the government Gazette.
What will the legislation amend in Thailand's legal framework?
-The legislation will amend the country's civil and commercial code.
How does the legislation address gender-specific labels in the legal framework?
-The legislation will alter gender-specific labels such as 'men' and 'women' with gender-neutral terms like 'individual'.
What does the speaker from NDTV suggest about the significance of this legislation for Thailand?
-The speaker suggests that the legislation is a significant milestone for Thailand, making it the third country in Asia and the first in Southeast Asia to allow individuals to marry without gender-specific references.

Outlines

00:00

🏳️‍🌈 Thailand Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage

The Thai Senate has passed a historic marriage equality bill, making Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. The legislation marks a significant step forward for LGBTQ+ rights in the region. Out of 152 members, 130 voted in favor of the bill, which grants full legal, financial, and medical rights to marriage partners regardless of gender. The bill requires endorsement from the King and will come into effect within 120 days of its publication in the government Gazette. This amendment to the country's civil and commercial code will replace gender-specific terms with gender-neutral terms, reflecting a progressive shift in Thai legislation.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Senate

The Senate is a legislative body in many countries, typically consisting of elected members who help make laws. In the context of this video, the Thai Senate is mentioned as having passed a significant bill. This is a crucial step in the legislative process, indicating that the marriage equality bill has been approved by a key governmental body.

💡Marriage Equality Bill

A Marriage Equality Bill is a piece of legislation aimed at granting equal rights to same-sex couples in marriage. In this video, the passage of such a bill in Thailand is highlighted as a historic moment, signifying a major step towards LGBTQ+ rights in the country.

💡Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is a geographical region that includes countries in the southeastern part of Asia. The video notes that Thailand will become the first country in this region to recognize same-sex marriage, emphasizing the significance of this legislative change in a broader regional context.

💡Taiwan

Taiwan is a region in Asia that has already legalized same-sex marriage. The video mentions Taiwan as one of the few places in Asia where same-sex couples can legally marry, setting a precedent for other countries in the region, including Thailand.

💡Nepal

Nepal is another country in Asia where same-sex marriage is legal. The video script uses Nepal as an example of a country that has already taken steps towards marriage equality, further illustrating the broader trend in Asia towards recognizing same-sex marriage.

💡LGBTQ+

LGBTQ+ is an acronym that stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, and others. It represents a diverse community of individuals with different sexual orientations and gender identities. The video discusses the impact of the marriage equality bill on this community, highlighting its importance for advancing their rights.

💡Legal Recognition

Legal recognition refers to the acknowledgment by law of certain rights or statuses. In the video, the lack of legal recognition for same-sex marriages in India is contrasted with the progress made in Thailand, where the marriage equality bill aims to provide this recognition.

💡Civil and Commercial Code

The Civil and Commercial Code is a set of laws that governs civil and commercial matters in many countries. The video mentions that the marriage equality bill will amend Thailand's Civil and Commercial Code, indicating a significant change in the legal framework to accommodate same-sex marriage.

💡Gender Neutral Terms

Gender neutral terms are words or phrases that do not specify a gender. The video script highlights the intention to replace gender-specific labels like 'men' and 'women' with gender-neutral terms in the law, reflecting a broader effort to be inclusive and non-discriminatory.

💡King's Endorsement

In Thailand, the king's endorsement is required for certain laws to become effective. The video notes that the marriage equality bill will need the king's endorsement before it can be implemented, showing the importance of royal approval in the legislative process.

💡Government Gazette

The Government Gazette is an official publication where laws and regulations are published. The video mentions that the law will come into effect within 120 days of its publication in the Government Gazette, indicating the final step in the process of making the marriage equality bill law.

Highlights

The Senate has passed the final reading of a historic marriage equality Bill.

Thailand is set to become the first country in Southeast Asia to recognize same-sex marriage.

Thailand will become the third country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage after Taiwan and Nepal.

India's Top Court declined to grant legal recognition to same-sex marriages, leaving it to Parliament's decision.

130 of the 152 Thai senate members voted in favor of the marriage equality act.

The approval marks a monumental step forward for LGBTQ+ rights in Thailand.

The marriage equality Bill grants full legal, financial, and medical rights for marriage partners of any gender.

The law requires endorsement from the king before becoming a reality.

The legislation will come into effect within 120 days of its publication in the government Gazette.

The law will amend the country's civil and commercial code.

Gender-specific labels such as 'men' and 'women' will be altered to gender-neutral terms like 'individual'.

The royal Thai government congratulates all voices that have been pushing this legislation forward.

The legislation allows two individuals, not just ladies and gentlemen, to tie the knot without gender-specific references.

The approval is a significant milestone for Thailand, making it the first country in ASEAN to legalize same-sex marriage.

Despite historically conservative values, the Thai government and state agencies have shown progress in this matter.

The legislation is a reflection of the evolving societal attitudes towards LGBTQ+ rights in Thailand.

The law's passage is celebrated as a victory for the LGBTQ+ community and advocates of equal rights.