(Bangkok) Tears, kisses and a rainbow flag: nearly 2,000 LGBTQ+ couples said “yes” in Thailand on Thursday, as the law authorizing same-sex marriage came into force, a pioneer in Asia from the South-East.
Published yesterday at 9:08 p.m.
Montira RUNGJIRAJITTRANON, Alexis HONTANG
Agence France-Presse
“Today is an exceptional day. We have the right to love, like others,” Sappanyoo Panatkool, 38, smiled to AFP after marrying her partner Apiwat Apiwatsayree, 49, who wiped away a tear during the ceremony.
The two actors, in matching beige suits, are among the first couples to receive their marriage certificate, bordered in pink, from the authorities.
Thailand has become the third Asian territory to recognize equal marriage, after Taiwan and Nepal. Only around forty countries in the world have taken the plunge, since the Netherlands in 2001.
“We are so happy. We have been waiting for this day for 10 years,” said Thanaphon Chokhongsung, 59.
This Thai woman united with her partner Sumalee Sudsaynet, 64, in a district of the capital Bangkok with an evocative name: Bang Rak, “rak” meaning “love” in Thai.
Mass celebrations also took place in the convention hall of one of Bangkok’s largest shopping malls, where officials were set up to manage the influx of requests, in a festive atmosphere.
Consensus
Dozens of couples, some in traditional costume, filled the venue. The khaki of a police officer’s uniform blended into this colorful crowd.
“We are very happy. We no longer have to worry about the future of our partner if something happens to one of us,” said Pisit Sitihirunchai, the member of the law enforcement agencies, who united with Chanatip, employee of an NGO.
The new marriage law, promulgated by King Maha Vajiralongkorn in September, no longer includes gender references and gives homosexual couples the same rights in matters of inheritance, property or adoption as heterosexual couples.
-Gay marriage sparks a rare consensus in Thailand, in a context of growing polarization between the conservative bloc favorable to the army and the king, and the progressive opposition supported by the younger generations.
The Buddhist kingdom has long enjoyed a reputation for tolerance towards sexual and gender minorities, which attracts tourists from conservative neighboring countries.
Homosexuality is illegal in half of Asian countries, and can result in a prison sentence of several years, as in Burma or Malaysia, bordering Thailand, noted in 2020 a report from the International Association of People lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (ILGA).
Discriminations
“Today, the rainbow flag flies proudly above Thailand,” wrote Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, on X.
“This law on marriage equality marks the beginning of greater awareness in Thai society of gender diversity,” continued the leader, currently in Switzerland for the Davos Forum.
The law remained associated with his predecessor Srettha Thavisin, from the same party, Pheu Thai, who accelerated the legislative process, until her dismissal in August.
The chronic instability of Thai political life, between coups d’état and major popular protests, had overcome previous attempts to authorize marriage for all in the past.
“Recently, the leader of a country said there were only two genders. But I think we are more open-minded than that,” said Srettha, in an allusion to American President Donald Trump who signed a decree on Monday after his inauguration limiting to two, “male” and “female”, the genres recognized by the federal government.
Despite this progress on marriage, transgender or non-binary people still do not have the right to change the mention of their sex on their identity documents in Thailand, the next battle to be won for local LGBTQ+ rights activists.
“People who don’t identify with their biological sex are like homeless people,” said Ploynaplus Chirasukon, who married his longtime partner in Bangkok. “The possibility of changing sex in civil status would allow true equality. »
