Thailand first country in Southeast Asia to say yes to same-sex marriage – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries

Happy and newlyweds – at least for a little while. The photo of Vorawan “Beaut” Ramwan and Anticha “An” Sangchai getting married during the 2022 Bangkok Pride parade went viral at the time. But the marriage was not valid. Despite Thailand’s flourishing LGBT culture, the governing authorities have been more conservative. Until no. Today it was decided that Thailand will become the first South East Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage. – This changes my life, and the lives of many other Thais, says Sangchai to Reuters. With today’s change in the law, Thailand also becomes the third country in the whole of Asia where gay couples are allowed to marry. Nepal and Taiwan are the other two. – We have waited a long time for this. Sangchai and Ramwan met each other during the corona pandemic. Now they have been in a team for four years. They live together with their cat in a flat in Bangkok, where Sangchai is a university lecturer and Ramwan works as a nurse. Their lives are spent in two weeks. – We sign the marriage certificate as soon as the law comes into force. We have waited a long time for this, says Sangchai. For the two, the right to marriage is more than just a wedding ceremony. – It gives us the same legal protection as heterosexual couples, but it is also a recognition of our existence, they say. Until now, same-sex couples have missed out on certain rights that one would otherwise get as a married couple in Thailand, such as inheritance, adoption, tax relief and fringe benefits at work. The law change comes in the middle of the Pride celebrations in Bangkok. Photo: Manan Vatsyayana / AFP An overwhelming majority voted for Thailand’s 25th pride celebration is in full swing in the capital. The country has long been known for openness when it comes to gender diversity and different forms of cohabitation. An important engine in their huge tourist industry is precisely the LGBT culture. But until now there has been a separation between people and culture, and government and law. In the senate today, 130 voted for the bill, while four voted against. 18 did not vote. Now the promise is sent to the King for final approval, but this is considered a formality. The law is expected to enter into force later this year. Ramwan is happy to be able to be each other’s loved ones, even in an emergency. As a nurse, she has seen several cases where one partner cannot make medical decisions on behalf of their partner, because they are not legally married. – In the past, I have been afraid of being old. I haven’t felt confident that someone can take care of me or that I can lean on someone, says Ramwan. She is happy that she is now allowed to take care of Sangchai, and vice versa. Published 18.06.2024, at 12.42 Updated 18.06.2024, at 12.55 p.m



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