Video: Hundreds wed as Thai same-sex marriage law comes into force

[groyn88]

On Thursday, 23 January 2025, Thailand's same-sex marriage law came into effect. A high-profile gay couple were married in the country, among the first of hundreds expected to do so. Thai actors Apiwat "Porsch" Apiwatsayree, 49, who was in tears, and Sappanyoo "Arm" Panatkool, 38, in matching beige suits, were handed their pink-bordered marriage certificates at a registry office in Bangkok. "We fought for it for decades and today is a remarkable day that love is love," said Arm.
The milestone saw Thailand become by far the biggest place in Asia to recognise equal marriage, after Taiwan and Nepal. The law on marriage would henceforth use gender-neutral terms in place of "men", "women", "husbands" and "wives", also clearing the way for transgender people to marry, and grant adoption and inheritance rights to all married couples.
Lesbian couple Sumalee Sudsaynet, 64, and Thanaphon Chokhongsung, 59, were the first to wed at Bangrak District and the couple showed the media their engagement rings. "We are so happy. We've been waiting for this day for 10 years," said Thanaphon, wearing a white bridal gown. The couple met 10 years ago through a mutual friend and bonded over their passion for Buddhism and merit-making. "The legalisation of same-sex marriage uplifts our dignity," Sumalee said. "It allows us to enjoy the same rights as heterosexual couples. My emotions today are so overwhelming, I can't even put them into words."
Dozens of couples dressed in traditional and contemporary wedding outfits trickled into a large hall in a shopping centre for a mass LGBTQ wedding organised by campaign group Bangkok Pride with city authorities. Rows of officials were at tables helping the couples fill out marriage forms, an administrative step before they could collect their certificates, with hundreds expected to do so over the course of the day. Thailand ranked highly on indexes of LGBTQ legal and living conditions, and Thursday's milestone made it the first Southeast Asian country to allow equal marriage.
The kingdom's same-sex marriage bill was passed in a historic parliamentary vote in June 2024, the third place in Asia to do so after Taiwan and Nepal.
The law was ratified by King Maha Vajiralongkorn in September 2024 and came into effect after 120 days. It marked the culmination of years of campaigning and thwarted attempts to pass equal marriage laws. Thailand had long had an international reputation for tolerance of the LGBTQ community, and opinion polls reported in local media had shown overwhelming public support for equal marriage. However, much of the Buddhist-majority kingdom retained traditional and conservative values and LGBTQ people said they still faced barriers and discrimination in everyday life.
Former Thai prime minister Srettha Thavisin, who was in office when the law was passed, tweeted his congratulations: "Equal marriage has truly become possible with the power of all. From now on, there will no longer be a 'man' and a 'woman', but 'individual' and 'individual' who are equal 'spouses'. I congratulate you wholeheartedly on your love."
More than 30 countries had legalised marriage for all since the Netherlands became the first to allow same-sex unions in 2001. Thai activists had been pushing for same-sex marriage rights for more than a decade, with their advocacy stalled by political turbulence in a country regularly upended by coups and mass street protests.
Kevin Pehthai Thanomkhet, a 31-year-old trans man, married his wife, Maple Nathnicha Klintgaworn, 39. His 65-year-old father Phornchai was with them. "So happy, like, oh my god...my heart is beating," Kevin said. "He is happy for this ... I have always accepted (him)," Phornchai said. "Whatsoever, it is OK with me."
Ploynaplus Chirasukorn said she had been with her partner Kwanporn Kongpetch for 17 years. "In the past, LGBTQ was seen as a monster," she said. She supported the push for gender identity recognition beyond biological sex. "A person who was born different sex from what they want to be feels like a person who has no home. If we can push for it, we will feel like it is really equal. If you are not ready (to marry), then you have your whole life as Thailand is now OK for your love."
Links:
https://the-singapore-lgbt-encyclopaedia.fandom.com/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_Singapore

Edited January 23 by groyn88

[Steve5380]

Now it could be a good time for Singapore to start putting aside its sanctimoniousness...

[murano]

1 hour ago, Steve5380 said:

Now it could be a good time for Singapore to start putting aside its sanctimoniousness...

and let gay couples BTOgether?

[jolterxtreme]

but the fact is more orphans will be adopted and also the inheritance can pass of the the adopted child. reducing poverty on the streets.. if inheritance goes to a relative that doesnt even know you exist. what is the point of wealth accumulation? ask you far distance relatives to spend for you or ask govt to spend for you every year end bonus big fat checks?

[Pubico1]

But divorce rate will confirm still climb (regardless st8 or not). In today’s stressful world, people are less tolerant and generally less accommodative cause options (genuine or not) are in abundance. 

[egal]

hte oplice couple is so cute, lol

[QinWei]

Congrats!! Somehow on tiktoks r mostly female lgbtq marrying 

[Steve5380]

20 hours ago, Pubico1 said:

But divorce rate will confirm still climb (regardless st8 or not). In today’s stressful world, people are less tolerant and generally less accommodative cause options (genuine or not) are in abundance. 

 

Indeed, more marriages -> more divorces.  But if marriage does not work the first time, it's better than not being able to marry at all.

 

There is no reason today's world should be more stressful than the past. This is an excuse for failure by those who haven't lived in the past. 

[Why?]

Let's hope Phillipine is next in SEA, followed by Vietnam and Cambodia.  I wouldn't put my bet on muslim countries like Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. 

[Anon_cock]

if Singapore eventually also allow gay marriage, would u and your partner be the first few to get married and appear on TV for historical purpose? or will u do it secretly once the hype is over?

Edited January 25 by Anon_cock

[murano]

2 hours ago, Why? said:

Let's hope Phillipine is next in SEA, followed by Vietnam and Cambodia.  I wouldn't put my bet on muslim countries like Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. 

Singapore is supposedly secular, so we should be next in line 

[murano]

8 hours ago, QinWei said:

Congrats!! Somehow on tiktoks r mostly female lgbtq marrying 

tiktok is nonsense

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cge7g93xjw9o

Edited January 25 by murano

[Why?]

23 hours ago, Anon_cock said:

if Singapore eventually also allow gay marriage, would u and your partner be the first few to get married and appear on TV for historical purpose? or will u do it secretly once the hype is over?

What's the point of making a big deal out of a minor issue unless you're a well-known celebrity?  Why should a homosexual married pair become attention-seekers when other straight couples don't make their marriage public?   The best course of action is usually to inform your close friends and family members or post an announcement on your personal Facebook page.  What is personal, remains personal and we don't need public opinion by telling them too much.

[Why?]

21 hours ago, murano said:

Singapore is supposedly secular, so we should be next in line 

Although Singapore is a secular country, non-secular voices are amplified during election voting.

[murano]

1 hour ago, Why? said:

Although Singapore is a secular country, non-secular voices are amplified during election voting.

why and how can non-secular voices be amplified 

 

shouldn't people stand up for their beliefs and not let certain voices lead the convo 

[Pubico1]

If SG eventually allows gay marriage, likely the current status quo of the BTO processes and its incentives and related conditions will be challenged. It’s going to be really really messy wow. Not forgetting that there are going to be those f**kers who will find ways and means to exploit the system for their own selfish $ gains at the expense of those who genuinely want to build a family (st8 & gay alike). 

[murano]

1 hour ago, Pubico1 said:

If SG eventually allows gay marriage, likely the current status quo of the BTO processes and its incentives and related conditions will be challenged. It’s going to be really really messy wow. Not forgetting that there are going to be those f**kers who will find ways and means to exploit the system for their own selfish $ gains at the expense of those who genuinely want to build a family (st8 & gay alike). 

that's beyond your pay grade 

 

let people do their job

 

we focus on our agenda and messaging 

[Pubico1]

2 hours ago, murano said:

that's beyond your pay grade 

 

let people do their job

 

we focus on our agenda and messaging 

I have no agenda and no messaging. And I’m no big supporter of marriage either (st8 or gay). See zero purpose in a marriage cert lol. If two persons want to be together then be together with or without cert and commit. My stance and privilege is to be an observer from the sideline and watch with amazement at all the hoo haas people (st8 or gay) are capable of. To add on  don’t be too quick to comment on someone’s pay scale. You just never know. 

Edited January 26 by Pubico1

[murano]

2 hours ago, Pubico1 said:

I have no agenda and no messaging. And I’m no big supporter of marriage either (st8 or gay). See zero purpose in a marriage cert lol. If two persons want to be together then be together with or without cert and commit. My stance and privilege is to be an observer from the sideline and watch with amazement at all the hoo haas people (st8 or gay) are capable of. To add on  don’t be too quick to comment on someone’s pay scale. You just never know. 

OK then you're no ally

[Why?]

On 1/23/2025 at 11:53 PM, Steve5380 said:

Now it could be a good time for Singapore to start putting aside its sanctimoniousness...

Everyday is a good time IF your govt is good.

[doncoin]

The purpose of marriage primarily is to seek recognition and protection under the law. It is not so much about two people getting together, but from a legal perspective, what 

marriage does is establish a formal legal framework that governs the rights and obligations of the parties involved. This includes property ownership, inheritance rights, tax benefits, spousal privileges, decision-making authority in medical emergencies, and protections in case of divorce or death. Marriage serves as a legally binding contract that provides structure and clarity to the relationship, ensuring that both parties have defined rights and responsibilities under the law.

 

From this legal perspective, marriage also facilitates societal stability by offering a recognized institution that addresses issues of family support, child custody, and financial accountability, reducing ambiguities that might arise in informal arrangements.Without this legal framework, you basically do not have legal rights to things like inheritance, financial rights, property rights, etc.

 

For committed LGBT couples, having these marriage protection laws can further solidify their relationship because the social support network is built-in. 

[Steve5380]

1 minute ago, doncoin said:

The purpose of marriage primarily is to seek recognition and protection under the law. It is not so much about two people getting together, but from a legal perspective, what 

marriage does is establish a formal legal framework that governs the rights and obligations of the parties involved. This includes property ownership, inheritance rights, tax benefits, spousal privileges, decision-making authority in medical emergencies, and protections in case of divorce or death. Marriage serves as a legally binding contract that provides structure and clarity to the relationship, ensuring that both parties have defined rights and responsibilities under the law.

 

From this legal perspective, marriage also facilitates societal stability by offering a recognized institution that addresses issues of family support, child custody, and financial accountability, reducing ambiguities that might arise in informal arrangements.Without this legal framework, you basically do not have legal rights to things like inheritance, financial rights, property rights, etc.

 

For committed LGBT couples, having these marriage protection laws can further solidify their relationship because the social support network is built-in. 

 

Well said.   But it is a pity that religion had to get involved in the field of marriage like one more of their exploitations of Society for their ambitions of power and dominance through their invented divinities and related doctrines.

 

In my Catholic faith, marriage is PRIMARILY a "Sacrament".   ( as if it is the gods who are marrying, ha ha).  For a healthy religiousness, one has to realize that gods should have no business in the intimate relations between humans. 

 

Of course, in marriage one has to respect the ideologies of the partner. Believers can be good people, and so, good partners.  But the respect should be mutual, and should include the rejection of any authority of organized religions to get involved in marriages.  Instead, this belongs to the secular authorities.  If a nice marriage ceremony is desired, instead of paying money to the Church and having to follow their requisites, it can be done in front of a Justice of the Peace or similar.  There won't be prayers and incense, but still organ music and procession of a bride with long dress and flowers and etc. etc. 

 

We know that intelligence does not converge towards atheism but to agnosticism.  And agnosticism allows for religiousness and morality to exist in a relationship.