Gay couples to register worldwide
PUBLISHED: 21 Jan 2025 at 06 :00
Thai embassies and consulates abroad are geared up for same-sex wedding licenses starting on Thursday after the Marriage Equality Act comes into influence on Wednesday.
Same-sex people may register their relationship at any neighborhood workplace across Thailand and at Thai embassies and consulates worldwide from Thursday.
Deputy state official Karom Ponpornklang said on Monday that the Department of Provincial Administration is ready to help licenses under the union fairness laws in 878 regions globally on Thursday.
The ministry, which serves as the main registration, has also worked with Bangkok’s 50 district offices and 94 embassies and consulates abroad to maintain registrations go easily, Mr Karom said.
The ministry has furthermore drawn up an Interior Ministry rules regarding family licenses to help LGBTQ organizations.
Marriage and divorce techniques have also been improved, and more marriage and divorce credentials have been published to join an expected rise in demand after the bill becomes law, he said.
Personnel have also been trained to assure they are equipped with essential information about the new laws and proper etiquette when providing services for same-sex couples, Mr Karom said, adding that activities will also be held global on Thursday to indicate Wednesday’s passage of the marriage equality law.
” The government, the Interior Ministry and the Department of Provincial Administration are ready to facilitate registrations of LGBTQ couples to promote gender equality and diversity. This will also boost Thailand’s image in the international community,” he said.
In a video clip posted by the opposition People’s Party ( PP ), Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, the party leader, welcomed the new law, saying pushing for the passage of the law was one of the priorities of the now-dissolved Move Forward Party, which was reborn as the PP.
He also said the PP will continue to monitor any problems that may arise after the enactment of the law and will find ways to address such problems.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration ( BMA ) will also organise an event called” Marriage Equality Day” and a mass marriage registration at Paragon Hall in Siam Paragon from 8. 30am to 16. 30pm on Thursday.
Couples who plan to register their marriage at Siam Paragon or in the 50 districts in Bangkok on Thursday are encouraged to fill out an online form prior to the day via the link https ://shorturl. at/lotny.
They will need to bring their ID cards or equivalent documents issued by a government agency and their household registration documents.
As for foreigners, they have to show their passports and single status certificates from their home country or issued by their embassy in Thailand.
The Marriage Equality Act was endorsed by His Majesty the King and published in the Royal Gazette on Sept 24, making Thailand the third country or territory in Asia, after Taiwan and Nepal, to recognise same-sex marriage.
The new law will allow any two individuals who are 18 years old or older to register their marriage and receive the same benefits and rights as heterosexual couples. But parents ‘ and/or guardians ‘ consent will still be required if the applicants are younger than 20.