31 Jul 2018

Thailand to 'Quickly' Pass Same-sex Marriage Law

If Thailand passes bill in September as planned, it will beat Taiwan to becoming the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex unions.

Thailand's justice minister wants to "quickly" move to legislate same sex marriage, according to the director-general of the Rights and Liberties Protection Department (RLPD), Pitikan Sithidej.

"The bill is now being vetted by the ministry. We expect to finish considering it by the end of September. After that, it will be forwarded to the cabinet for approval before being submitted to the National Legislative Assembly for deliberation," said Pitikan Sithidej, according to the Bangkok Post.

"Ever since the justice ministry began pushing the bill, the feedback from the LGBT community has been good," she said.

The draft bill will allow a same-sex spouses to possess assets and property after death, tax reductions and welfare benefits, and adopt children.

Taiwan's constitutional court in May 2017 gave the government two years to legislate equal marriage rights before same-sex unions automatically become legal in May 2019.

Widely tipped to become the first country in Asia to legalize same sex marriage, Taiwan's inaction on the issue means it could now be beaten to the accolade by Thailand.

Thailand