Thailand is on track to become the first country in Southeast Asia to recognise same-sex marriage. Thai lawmakers passed a draft bill in December that could put Thailand on the same path as Taiwan in legalising gay unions, marking a significant milestone for LGBTQ+ advocates.
However, the Kingdom must first win support for the bill from a conservative senate and review four draft bills before same-sex marriages are permitted in the politically polarised country.
According to Phil Robertson, deputy director for Asia at the international non-governmental organisation Human Rights Watch, there is a yawning gap between Thailand’s progressive legislation and weak enforcement of gender rights laws. In their recent annual World Report 2024, Thailand’s enforcement of its Gender Equality Act 2015 was described as…
