Thailand will make history as the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex civil unions
Thailand it will become the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex civil unions. On June 7, the country's cabinet approved a new draft of the Civil Union Bill, which allows same-sex couples to legally register their union.
The landmark announcement comes a couple of years after the bill was first approved by cabinet in 2020. While the proposed legislation avoids the term “wedding ", the couples LGTBIQ + 17 years or older will be able to jointly own property, adopt children and pass on inheritances. Those under 17 years of age must obtain the permission of their parents or legal guardians.
However, the legislation was put on hold after officials asked the Ministry of Justice to reassess the inclusive bill and made a number of amendments after consulting groups LGTBIQ + and religious. Once the adjustments were implemented, the bill went to the State Council for further inspection before being sent to the cabinet. With the approval of the new draft of the Civil Union Bill, now it goes to the House of Representatives of the country to be voted.
While the bill is arguably a monumental advance for human rights LGTBIQ + en Thailand, has been criticized by social activists as an excuse to label same-sex unions as "civil couples" instead of "wedding «.
critical voices
Shortly after the bill's first passage in 2020, LGBTQ activist and secretary general of the progressive youth organization Free Youth, Tattep Ruangprapaikitseree, He said: "The Civil Unions Bill is not a milestone for gender equality in Thailand, but an obstacle to achieving marriage for all. Why not call everyone, traditional and non-traditional couples alike, married couples? Why should a special term be assigned to LGTBIQ + as 'civil partnership'? This is another form of discrimination in disguise. We don't want anything special, we just want to be treated like everyone else.".
Pauline Ngarmpring, who is trans and ran for prime minister in 2019, added: “The basis of the same-sex union bill is not based on equality. But it's better than nothing. This is not a fight that can end in our generation".
If the civil union bill passes the House of Representatives, Thailand will be the second place in Asia to recognize same-sex unions after Taiwan legalized same-sex marriage in 2019..
