Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said he is firmly behind a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in Thailand and asked the LGBTQ+ community for patience as he works with agencies to reduce existing prejudice and ensure the legislation will pass.

Prime Minister Srettha’s statement represents the first overt support for same-sex marriage by a Thai prime minister.  None of the previous prime ministers, however, ever publicly voiced opposition to the idea.

Thailand has long been known for its open society, including when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community. Gay and transgender people have been and are among the Kingdom’s celebrities, athletes, bureaucracy, professional class and creative community. However, previous attempts to legalize same-sex marriage have fallen short of passage into law.

Last week, the Prime Minister chaired a meeting of government agencies and other organizations working on or dealing with transgender marriage rights, sex-worker rights and Thailand’s bid to organize World Pride 2028.

World Pride is a series of international events coordinated by the group InterPride. The first was held in Rome in 2000 and the next one will be hosted by Washington, D.C., in 2025.

“The Prime Minister assured the meeting that the government is ready to support the equal marriage rights bill for transgenders and will also support amendments of other related laws concerned,” Chai Watcharong, the Government Spokesperson said.

A government bill under consideration would allow same-sex unions to be registered as partnerships but not actual marriage. That bill has been criticized by LGBTQ+ groups. The Prime Minister told them he needs more time to win over resistance in some quarters to full recognition of same-sex marriage, but that he is working for that goal.

Photo courtesy of https://www.thaigov.go.th/