Thailand may soon become the first south-Asian country to legalise same-sex unions. The country’s Cabinet approved a draft bill on Wednesday, July 8, that will legally recognise same-sex civil partnerships. This bill, if passed, will afford same-sex couples in the conservative country many more rights.
Under the Civil Partnership Bill, couples must be at least 17 years old and one must be a Thai citizen to qualify. The draft bill will soon have a public hearing, in which the House of Representatives will debate and vote on whether or not to pass the bill. It will then go to the Senate, who will once again vote on whether to pass it. This could be a months-long process.
This bill, if passed, would also make Thailand the second Asian country to legally recognise same-sex unions. In 2019, Taiwan became the first in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage.
Recognising same-sex civil partnerships is not the same as legalising same-sex marriage, however. It will only allow same-sex couples to legally register their union, but not formally marry in the traditional sense. Furthermore, these couples will be able to adopt children together, claim inheritance rights and jointly manage assets like property. This is a massive step forward for the LGBTQI+ movement in Thailand.
