Hundreds of LGBTQ+ couples in Thailand are expected to tie the knot on Thursday as a new law legalizing same-sex marriage goes into effect in the Southeast Asian nation.

Thailand joins Taiwan and Nepal among countries recognizing same-sex unions in Asia. More than 30 countries worldwide now recognize same-sex marriage, according to the Pew Research Center.

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Thailand becomes first Southeast Asian country to legalize marriage equality
The king of Thailand just gave Royal Assent to a law allowing same-sex couples to marry and adopt.

Thailand’s law enshrining marriage equality was passed last year by Parliament and given “royal assent” by the country’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn in September.

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Anticipation has been building since for hundreds of same-sex couples who’ve waited years for the opportunity to wed.

“This demonstrates that Thailand is ready to embrace diversity and accept love in all its forms,” said Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who invited dozens of LGBTQ+ couples and activists to government offices last week ahead of the law’s enactment. “Today shows that our country is open and accepting.”

The new marriages will come with full legal, financial, medical and inheritance rights. For the first time in Thailand, same-sex couples will be allowed to legally adopt.

In Bangkok, more than 200 couples plan to marry in a mass wedding at a popular shopping mall, according to Bangkok Pride, which co-organized the event with local authorities, CNN reports.

Organizers will roll out a “pride carpet” at a celebration welcoming the newlyweds.

“We are all delighted and excited,” said Siritata Ninlapruek, an LGBTQ+ activist in Bangkok. “We’ve been fighting for our rights for over ten years, and now it’s finally happening.”

“We’ve been waiting for a long time,” said Apiwat Apiwatsayree, who plans to marry his partner of 17 years.

While the new law replaces the terms “husband” and “wife” with inclusive, gender-neutral language, resistance remains in Thailand to fully recognizing the rights of all LGBTQ+ Thai citizens.

Transgender woman Nina Chetniphat Chuadkhunthod will marry her boyfriend of 22 years on Thursday with personal documents that still identify her as male. Parliament rejected a proposed gender recognition bill last February.

“We should use marriage equality as an opportunity to open another door for gender recognition,” said local trans rights advocate Hua Boonyapisomparn.

“We have come far in changing the law and there is some way to go for more inclusion,” Nada Chaiyajit, a lecturer at Mae Fah Luang University’s law school, told Reuters.

“We also still have to fight for social acceptance and that requires more than just changes to the law.”

For Chuadkhunthod, how she arrived at the alter doesn’t diminish the celebration.

“I feel like, wow, my dream is close to coming true.”  

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