The first vote on four same-sex marriage draft laws is planned for Thursday as the Thai parliament moves toward legalization. Parliament considered identical draft laws and the previous government’s same-sex civil union bill last year but did not vote on them before the session ended.
The four draft measures being debated on Thursday include one from the new administration that took office after the May general election, one from civil society groups, and two from the opposition Move Forward and the Democrats with similar ideas.
Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsuthin informed parliament that the government’s draft bill would change municipal regulations to allow lovers of either gender to engage and marry.
“This will provide rights, responsibilities, and family status as equal to the marriage between a man and a woman presently in all aspects,” he said.
Somsak said a government survey between Oct. 31 and Nov. 14 found 96.6% approval for the proposed measure. Thailand boasts one of Asia’s most open and prominent LGBT populations, but many political activists argue the country’s laws and institutions still discriminate against LGBT people and same-sex couples.
Suppose parliament approves the draft rules in its first reading on Thursday. In that case, they might be submitted for final reading early next year, making Thailand the third Asian country to recognize same-sex marriage after Taiwan and Nepal.
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