A step in the right direction.
The Thai cabinet has backed bill allowing same-sex unions, along with legal amendments to ensure that same-sex couples have the same rights as straight couples.
The bill and the amendments will now be put to a vote in the House. Parliament will set up a subcommittee to work on the draft, but it is likely that the bill will pass through.
Partnership registration will be available to consenting same-sex couples who are at least 17 years old.
One or both of the couple must be of Thai nationality.
The bill, which doesn’t go as far as endorsing marriage, will let same-sex unions adopt children, jointly manage assets and liabilities, and inherit from their partners.
The bill does not grant all the rights that are applicable to straight couples, such as some spousal benefits and tax exemptions.
Although the law won’t be exactly the same as “same sex marriage”, it’s a progressive move for Thailand and paves way for same sex legalization in Southeast Asia. Thailand typically has a friendly and welcoming perception towards LGBTQ community, but there hasn’t been properly enforced laws to ensure that same sex couples have the same level of security and support.
Now, the soon to pass law could change things for the better. When passed, Thailand would become the second Asian country after Taiwan to legalize same sex unions.
