Thailand Set to Become First Southeast Asian Country to Pass Marriage Equality Bill on June 18

National —

On June 16th, 2024, Mrs. Radklao Inthawong Suwankiri, the Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, announced the upcoming parliamentary deliberation of the Marriage Equality Bill on June 18th.

Following parliamentary approval, the bill will proceed to the cabinet and Prime Minister for final deliberation before being endorsed by His Royal Majesty the King. Once published in the Royal Gazette, the bill will become law after a 120-day waiting period, expected by the end of 2024.

Read about the Marriage Equality Bill in Thailand, recently passed by the lower house, marking a major step towards recognizing equal marriage rights for all genders, with significant changes anticipated if it becomes law.

Radklao also mentioned that Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will host a celebration at the Government House at 5:00 PM, attended by Thai ministers, foreign ambassadors, gender diversity supporters, and relevant agencies. 

At 6:00 PM, a parade organized by the LGBTQIAN+ community will march to the Bangkok Art and Culture Center (BACC) in Pathumwan, Bangkok, featuring drag shows, live music, and speeches celebrating marriage equality.

Radklao emphasized that many countries celebrate Pride Month each June as a sign of gender equality. The Thai government values Pride Month events and welcomes everyone to celebrate Thailand becoming the third country in Asia, following Taiwan and Nepal, and the first in Southeast Asia to pass the Marriage Equality Bill.

The original version of this article appeared on our sister website, The Pattaya News, owned by our parent company TPN media.