Over 1,800 same-sex couples have tied the knot in Thailand, marking the country as the first in Southeast Asia to recognize equal marriage after a 20-year struggle by activists. On Thursday, Thailand’s parliament displayed rainbow flags, and special wedding ceremonies took place in shopping malls and district offices nationwide. In Bangkok, over 200 couples participated in a mass wedding at one of the city’s largest shopping centers, while many others registered online at Bang Rak district offices, known as the “district of love.” Smaller celebrations occurred across the country, from Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen in the north to Phuket in the south.
Rungtiwa Thongkanopast, 59, was among the couples who married in central Bangkok. She expressed her joy, stating, “I am very happy, and very proud to [experience] what I have waited for for so long.” Thirteen years ago, Rungtiwa and her partner, Phonlavee, 45, attempted to register their marriage at their local district office, fully aware they would be denied, in an effort to highlight the injustice faced by same-sex couples. Over the years, other couples have engaged in similar protests to advocate for change.
LGBTQ+ activists aimed to achieve 1,448 wedding registrations on Thursday, symbolizing the number of the Thai civil code amended to permit equal marriage. By 6 PM, 1,832 marriages had been registered, including 654 in Bangkok, where festivities were set to continue into the night with drag performances and exhibitions celebrating LGBTQ+ history.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra shared on social media, “Today, the rainbow flag is proudly flying over Thailand.” Her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, who attended the mass wedding, congratulated the couples and criticized Donald Trump for his recent comments asserting there are only two genders in the U.S., stating, “I think we are more open-minded than that.”
Thailand is known for its vibrant LGBTQ+ community and is regarded as one of Asia’s most welcoming countries, but the journey to equal marriage has been lengthy. Ann Waaddao Chumaporn, who has advocated for legal change for over a decade, noted that past media portrayals contributed to stigma against the community, while Thailand’s political instability has hindered progress. The country has experienced two military coups since 2006, which empowered conservative factions and sometimes restricted civil society.
However, the political climate has shifted in recent years. Waaddao highlighted the significance of the pro-democracy movement, which emerged in 2020, as a catalyst for pushing new agendas focused on democratic reforms and LGBTQ+ equality. Media representations have also evolved, contributing to a more inclusive narrative in Thailand.
