Move Forward ‘porn bill’ fails its first reading

Proponents of the plan to legalize sex toys and other products may be more harmful than good.

MPs attend a parliament session. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)
Lawmakers attend a legislature program. ( Photo: Chanat Katanyu )

The House on Wednesday passed its first reading of a bill sponsored by the Move Forward Party to legalize the adult entertainment sector and its products, including sexual elements and sexy playthings.

Bangkok MP Taopiphop Limjittrakorn made the proposal earlier last month to update Part 287 of the Criminal Code, which forbids all forms of adultery, including sexual images and sex games.

Under the proposed article, only certain types of sexual materials may be banned, such as videos and/or photos depicting sexual assault, assault and paedophilia. Under the current legislation, no one under the age of 20 can participate in the production of child material.

Walk Forward MPs argued that restricting women’s freedom of choice in terms of the article was comparable to restricting the adult entertainment industry.

Saraburi’s group MP Sorapa Sriprat claimed that the country is a community built on hypocrisy and that sticking to the current law would make it impossible for it to accept reality.

He claimed that some people are forced to look for alternative ways to control their erotic desires, which can occasionally lead to sexual assault as a result of the ban on sex toys.

The article, according to Bangkok MP Phantin Nuamjerm, did forbid minors from entering the adult entertainment sector. He claimed that adult content may be legalized for better legislation because it is already common.

Duangrit Benjathikulchairungruang, a list-MP for the United Thai Nation Party, part of the partnership government, argued the amendment was cause more harm than good if it fails to provide sufficient constitutional protection for people susceptible to physical abuse.

Dr Cherdchai Tantisirin, a Pheu Thai Party MP, said the state does not have a law to manage sexual services, so he does not help the legalisation of child information.

He argued that sex toys might have health benefits and that a separate bill may get introduced to address this problem.