(23 Jan 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bangkok, Thailand – 22 January 2025
1. SOUNDBITE (English), Jerry Harmer, Associated Press:
“It’s a big day for Thailand, as a bill allowing LGBTQ+ couples to marry takes effect. It’s the first place in South East Asia to pass such legislation and only the third in Asia, as a whole, after Taiwan and Nepal. So now, the wording in the marriage law changes: it used to say ‘men and women’ now it says ‘individuals.’ It used to say “husband and wife.” Now it says “marriage partners.” And crucially there are practical benefits, too, including legal, financial and medical rights. So what are we going to see today? Well, Thais enjoy a good celebration and there’s likely to be a lot of that. Organisers say around 1,500 couples nationwide will tie the knot on day one, and no doubt many will do so in full wedding attire. Thailand has long had a reputation for being LGBTQ+ friendly. Today, after decades of campaigning, the law finally catches up with the public mood.”
2. Couple posing with marriage certificate
3. Couple registering
4. Pan across room
5. Couple registering
6. A couple being photographed
7. Various of couple posing with marriage certificate
STORYLINE:
Hundreds of LGBTQ+ couples in Thailand began making their wedded status legal on Thursday, the first day a law took effect granting them the same rights as heterosexual couples.
The enactment of the Marriage Equality Act makes Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia and the third place in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, after Taiwan and Nepal.
Marriage registration is customarily done at district offices, but on Thursday, around 300 couples are expected to complete the formalities at a daylong gala celebration in an exhibition hall at a shopping mall in central Bangkok.
Hundreds more are predicted to register in less fancy circumstances around the country.
The marriage equality bill, which sailed through both houses of parliament, amended the Civil and Commercial Code to change the words “men and women” and “husband and wife” to “individuals” and “marriage partners.”
It is supposed to open up access to full legal, financial and medical rights for LGBTQ+ couples.
Partners will have equal rights and responsibilities in dealing with joint assets, tax obligations and deductions, inheritance rights and survivor benefits.
Thailand has a reputation for acceptance and inclusivity, and thousands of people from around the world attend the annual Bangkok Pride parade.
But rights advocates have struggled for decades to pass a marriage equality law in a largely conservative society where members of the LGBTQ+ community say they face discrimination in everyday life, although they note that things have improved greatly in recent years.
Couples interviewed earlier this month by The Associated Press expressed happiness with the new law, even those already settled in contented long-term relationships.
Bangkok’s city government has said that it organized workshops for staff of all its district offices who are in charge of handling marriage registration.
They included lectures raising awareness about gender diversity and guidance on how to properly communicate with those who come for the service.
The Interior Ministry has offered similar guidance.
AP Video by Tian Macleod Ji
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