Since the Senate approved Thailand’s Marriage Equality Bill two weeks ago, the same-sex lovers have been cheering it up.
They claim they have been calmly awaiting this moment for a while, and that they may apply for a marriage license when the bill becomes law.
As long as they are committed to the beliefs that keep them up, the law is important to them because it helps maintain a happy and healthy marriage.
The Senate gave the Union Equality Bill its ultimate checking on June 18th.
The same-sex people ‘ unions are permitted to file their marriage under the same laws that apply to heterosexual lovers, with the same laws governing their union.
Thailand is expected to become one of 37 countries in the world and the first Southeast Asian nation to legalize same-sex unions by the end of this year. The act is expected to be rules and be effective by then.
A lengthy battle
Purachai Piamsoon, the then-interior secretary, first proposed the idea to let same-sex unions in 2001. But, it was shot down by Thaksin Shinawatra, prime minister at the time.
The plan was brought up in 2019 during Prime Minister Prayut Chan- o- cha’s management. The wedding justice policy was approved, but it was later dropped as a result of the dissolution of parliament.
The Marriage Equality Bill was finally approved by the Lower House on March 27, and 84 days afterward, the Upper House announced its ultimate decision to support it with a vote of 130:4.
Following imperial approval, the legislation will become effective 120 days after its publication in the Royal Gazette.
After fighting for their privileges for more than 20 years, the Thai LGBTQ group considers this victory.
The Bangkok Post just sat down with some residents of the neighborhood to ask what their thoughts were on the much-anticipated rules.
Room to improve
Prinn Vadhanavira, 44, and Chakkrit Vadhanavira, 49, are among those looking to tie the knot, despite having been up in a relationship for 22 times.
Due to the lack of legal recognition for same-sex couples in the past, Mr. Prinn claimed that the pair faced numerous difficulties, particularly when trying to buy real estate, obtain a mortgage jointly, or list each other as insurance beneficiaries.
In order for Mr. Prinn’s parents to adopt him as a son, they were finally able to resolve these issues by granting them legal support as lawful siblings.
The pair stated that they would declare their union as soon as the law became law, adding that they had already consulted legal professionals and looked into the changes to their legal status from adoptive siblings to spouses.
Prinn Vadhanavira, left, and Chakkrit Vadhanavira.
The legislation is also expected to reduce critical problems for Sirorat Kanjanasumranwong, 38, and her companion Palita Areeras, 30. The pair has been dating for three times.
We were often bothered by the fact that we were unable to sign medical authorization for each other because we were not legally related. We are then relieved that the problem will be resolved quickly, Ms. Sirorat said.
While the law allows identical- sex couples to enroll their marriage, some sections need to be improved, particularly regarding gender- certain status, which may lead to the misgendering of some LGBTQ people, particularly trans people.
Palita Areeras, left, and Sirorat Kanjanasumranwong.
Nachale Boonyapisomparn, vice chairman of the Foundation of Transgender Alliance for Human Rights, said that she, as a transgender woman, would like to be a family while her companion, a transman, would like to be a parents if they decided to file their marriage.
Essentially, they can record their marriage as a homosexual couple. Nevertheless, they have come to the conclusion that their sex identity is different from their biological sex.
However, the law also uses “father” and “mother”, referring to natural males and females. For terms could lead to misgendering in trans relationships.
” Thailand has come way. However, some things are left destroyed, such as the problem of constitutional guardianship and sexual health”, Ms Nachale said.
” Also, we still need to adapt our]education, welfare, justice and labour ] system to the legal changes. Additionally, we must concentrate on preventing bias and shame.
The Marriage Equality Bill demonstrates that Thailand is change, but we also need to make sure Thai society also changes, she continued.
Nachale Boonyapisomparn, straight, and her lover.
‘ Pink business ‘
According to Lee Badgett, professor of economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and chief economist at Koppa LGBTI Economic Power Lab, specific world demographic and socioeconomic changes will benefit Thailand once the identical relationship bill is passed.
She noted that the LGBTQ market has been expanding rapidly as more young people identify as LGBTQ , particularly among millennials ( born between 1981 and 1996 ) and Generation Z ( born between 1997 and 2012 ).
She pointed out that from 2021 until 2023, when Gallup, an American analysis and expert business, surveyed people in the United States, about one in 10 teenagers and about one in five Generation Z individuals identified as LGBTQ .
She added that one in five Gen Z and one in ten millennials identified as LGBTQ after Ipsos, a global market research and consulting company, conducted study in 30 nations.
This is a remarkably regular style throughout the world. But obviously, the world is changing drastically in terms of demography,” she added.
She noted that businesses may benefit from a demographic shift because more Thai people will get LGBTQ .
LGBTQ people are looking for products that represent them, and these consumers are expected to spend about US$ 4 trillion ( 146.7 trillion baht ) around the world a year.
” ]For Thailand], more employees, business owners and buyers will be LGBTQ . But, demographics will actually drive this major economic wave over time as young generations move forwards, in particular,” she added.
However, Prof Badgett pointed out that there are also almost about 65 countries around the world which criminalise sexuality or LGBTQ names.
She said,” This is clearly the best course of action for Thailand to benefit from the pink economy.”