Thailand already was in the forefront of Asian countries with a bill in parliament for acknowledging marriage equality.
However, the prolonged fluid situation of current Thai politics which saw parliament’s dissolution, a general election that was nullified and a caretaker government that has no authority to introduce new laws, did not see that bill proceed.
Presently, Yingluck Shinawatra’s status as caretaker prime minister is at stake and her cabinet may be dissolved automatically if she is found by the Constitutional Court to have abused her authority.
Such pressing political considerations have removed the equality rights bill from the forefront and relegated it to the back-burner, LGBT rights activists say.
Thailand officially and openly markets itself as a gay-friendly tourist destination, something no other Asian country does save for far away Israel. Thailand also leads the world with the highest number of gender reassignment surgeries.
Until last year, transgender women were only able to avoid conscription by being officially listed as mentally ill, a record that more often than not put them at a disadvantage while applying for employment.
Even during an earlier Bangkok gubernatorial race, the incumbent and frontrunner from one of the main political parties who was reelected had a pro LGBT message espousing sexual diversity.
Moves to draft a same-sex marriage law received much bipartisan support before it was unfortunately sidelined.
“These are changes that would no doubt be palatable to the wider and relatively broad-minded Thai public, since the law is clearly a long way behind society,” reports bangkokpost.com.
Thailand already was in the forefront of Asian countries with a bill in parliament for acknowledging marriage equality.However, the prolonged fluid situation of current Thai politics which saw parliament’s dissolution, a general election that was nullified and a caretaker government that has no authority to introduce new laws, did not see that bill proceed.
Presently, Yingluck Shinawatra’s status as caretaker prime minister is at stake and her cabinet may be dissolved automatically if she is found by the Constitutional Court to have abused her authority.
Such pressing political considerations have removed the equality rights bill from the forefront and relegated it to the back-burner, LGBT rights activists say.
Thailand officially and openly markets itself as a gay-friendly tourist destination, something no other Asian country does save for far away Israel. Thailand also leads the world with the highest number of gender reassignment surgeries.
Until last year, transgender women were only able to avoid conscription by being officially listed as mentally ill, a record that more often than not put them at a disadvantage while applying for employment.
Even during an earlier Bangkok gubernatorial race, the incumbent and frontrunner from one of the main political parties who was reelected had a pro LGBT message espousing sexual diversity.
Moves to draft a same-sex marriage law received much bipartisan support before it was unfortunately sidelined.
“These are changes that would no doubt be palatable to the wider and relatively broad-minded Thai public, since the law is clearly a long way behind society,” reports bangkokpost.com.
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Reader's Comments
During my trip, I sniff something, and my think that there will be riots in Thailand in future.
Then it happened, I often heard bombing
2. I went again in 2008-2009, what i feel/sniff that there will be more riots at everywhere in Thailand.
I saw situations /people having potential for making Riots because Riots in Thailand just paralell to Riots in other countries.
There were some people having this character and make justification those as peace and beautiful
it look like syndicate.
3. But i did not know that Thailand Government made preventive for this situation, look like did not care. Thailand goverment looke like welcome to people who have potential for Riots oe because they did not know.
Thailand goverment or LGBT should able to learn History of other countries and always get alert.
Remember that you are LGBT should not always to be "smile" as they are anti-smile.
4. LGBT should care and help goverment, You should not always party without care to your country safety
5. so, it is very important to have LGBT school, organizations that active
because i still do not see that LGBT much more involved actively in broad sense
6. You are LGBT having obligation to save your own countries respectively from those riots maker because they will always make effort for it.
7. I also seen other countries, Government having weakness on identification of potential Riots in your countries respectively. These should be contribution for LGBT community.
8. LGBT activities should include preventive and identification on Riots, Terror, Libel, etc.
You may do cruising but remember that there are Responsibilities for all LGBT to save your own nation.
This responsibilities will make u live with energy.
9. LGBT community still have no synergy with actual conditions at everwhere.
Should again review on recruitments of member and learn more.
It is totally beyond me that sensible gay people want to get involved in this hypocritical and farcical system of failure.
Marriage is a contract for LIFE. If you plan to get married, make an agreement with your partner-to-be. Decide which of you is to die if the marriage breaks down. That should sober you up.
8. Can you LGBT cut vegetable by hand? Yes
Can you LGBTcut dessert by spoon or plastic knife ? yes, still
Can you LGBT cut fresh meat by hand? by plastic knife? Big No
You need sharp, heavy metal knife.
9. Mean that LGBT should always smile to everybody but see who they are
There are some people that are anti-smile
10. The last time I went to Thailand was about 2008-2009, and the fresh meat made mobilitation to everywhere.
11. It can be new for Thailand , so that Thai goverment did not make preparation because they di not know the phenomena.
so many people are lier.
But it is not new for other countries, so LGBT should help Thailand.
I was visitor in Thailand but i recognize character of some people and they were in Thailand.
12. It is not for Thailand also, every country should able to see phenomena and character of people that will arrive in your country or had been in your country that possible to Riots, hate, Libel, Rebel, etc.
They perhaps look like nice at first as cover or depend on situation
why? they used something fake as belief.
They made us fighting each other.
And they preach to fight each other.
It look like syndicate that happened at everywhere in the world.
8. Can you LGBT cut vegetable by hand? Yes
Can you LGBT cut dessert by spoon or plastic knife ? yes, still
Can you LGBT cut fresh meat by hand? by plastic knife? Big No
You need sharp, heavy metal knife.
9. Mean that LGBT should always smile to everybody but see who they are
There are some people that are anti-smile
10. The last time I went to Thailand was about 2008-2009, and the fresh meat made mobilitation to everywhere.
11. It can be new for Thailand , so that Thai goverment did not make preparation because they di not know the phenomena.
so many people are lier.
But it is not new for other countries, so LGBT should help Thailand.
I was visitor in Thailand but i recognize character of some people and they were in Thailand.
12. It is not for Thailand also, every country should able to see phenomena and character of people that will arrive in your country or had been in your country that possible to Riots, hate, Libel, Rebel, etc.
They perhaps look like nice at first as cover or depend on situation
why? they used something fake as belief.
They made us fighting each other.
And they preach to fight each other.
It look like syndicate that happened at everywhere in the world.
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