Couples wed in a celebration of colour as Thailand legalises same-sex marriage

A day of celebration for same-sex couples in Thailand.

On Thursday, Thailand marked a significant milestone by becoming the first nation in Southeast Asia to legalise same-sex marriage, following Taiwan and Nepal in Asia.

At a grand wedding ceremony held at a luxury mall in Bangkok, over 200 couples gathered to exchange vows, according to ‘Yahoo! News’.

Ploynaplus Chirasukon and her spouse Kwanporn Kongpetch were the first LGBTQ+ couple to officially register their marriage. “I feel like so many things have been unlocked, and our definition of family feels more complete than ever.”

Anticha Sangchai and Vorawan Ramwan also tied the knot.

VORAWAN: “We got this one, rice.”

In Thai traditions, rice symbolises blessings for a prosperous and joyful life.

ANTICHA: "So excited, and it’s so meaningful for us…”

Thailand is known for its vibrant pride celebrations and acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals.

Legal experts believe the new law could drive further inclusion of the community.

Nevertheless, certain restrictions remain.

For instance, trans individuals in Thailand are currently unable to alter their birth gender.

Anticha Sangchai has observed the difficulties faced by LGBTQ+ couples.

“Actually, this same-sex marriage law is still incomplete. It doesn’t yet recognize the concept of parenthood beyond the male or female binary. Within the LGBT community, marriage often signifies the creation of a family, and many people are already thinking about having children—or some already have children. However, not everyone identifies as male or female. So, the terms 'father' and 'mother' used in the law still fail to be inclusive.”

Many experts are concerned about how officials might interpret the law, particularly in determining a couple's eligibility for child adoption.