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Though Thailand has a friendly image towards the LGBTQ+ community, the country’s laws are mixed in accommodating LGBTQ+ rights. Photo: AFP

Thailand set to legalise same-sex unions, in rare win for LGBT rights in Southeast Asia

  • The Civil Partnership Bill will let same-sex couples enjoy most of the rights of straight couples, including the ability to adopt children
  • If passed, Thailand will become the second place in Asia to allow such unions after Taiwan legalised them in 2019
Thailand
Thailand is set to be the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise same-sex unions after the government approved a bill that will now head for parliament approval to become law.
“This is an important step for Thailand in creating equality for everyone and guaranteeing rights for same-sex couples to start a family,” Rachada Dhnadirek, spokeswoman for the government, said after the Cabinet backed the move on Wednesday.

The Civil Partnership Bill, which does not go as far as endorsing marriage, will let same-sex unions enjoy most of the rights of heterosexual couples, including the right to adopt children, jointly manage assets and liabilities, and inherit from their partners.

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The bill in its current form still does not grant the couples access to each other’s government pension, but that could be allowed after some amendment at later stage, according to Justice Ministry’s Kerdchoke Kasamwongjit.

Though Thailand has a friendly image towards the gay, lesbian and transgender community, the country’s laws are mixed in accommodating LGBTQ+ rights.

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Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is illegal, yet some in the LGBTQ+ community say they have trouble finding jobs outside the tourism, media and entertainment industries. Currently, same-sex couples do not have legal rights.

“Once it reaches the parliament, we can be 100 per cent certain that the bill will eventually become law,” said Kerdchoke, deputy director general of the Rights and Liberties Protection Department, who has been working on the bill since its inception in 2012.

If passed, Thailand would become the second place in Asia to allow such unions after Taiwan legalised them in 2019.
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