12 years ago, a Thai couple headed to the marriage office in Bangkok to attend a large wedding on Valentine’s Day. Rungtiwa Thangkanopast wore a long white dress, while her partner Phanlavee Chongtangsattam wore a black tuxedo.
Officials welcomed them. But when they arrived at the registration desk and presented identification showing that each was female, they were turned away. We were told that marriage between two women was not permitted.
On Thursday, the couple finally got the chance to get married under Thailand’s new law allowing same-sex marriage. They held a mass wedding with hundreds of people in Bangkok once the law went into effect.
“We are happy and excited because we have been waiting for this day for a very long time,” said Rungtiwa. “For 20 years, we loved each other and had to hide from society’s opposition. But now we can stand proud.”
The large-scale wedding ceremony began in the morning at Paragon Hall, an event and convention center in Siam Paragon, one of Bangkok’s largest shopping malls. The event was organized by rights group Naruemit Pride, whose name roughly translates to fostering pride.
Dozens of government officials and dozens of journalists were in attendance as the first ceremony began in a large charcoal gray hall with a pink arch decorated with flowers against a backdrop of photos of the newlyweds. The couples were married one at a time by officials who reviewed the documents and officially registered the marriage as legal.
“Today we feel safe, secure and happy,” said Ploynaplus Chirasukon, 33, who married partner Kwanporn Kongpetch, 32, in his first marriage at the event. “We are happy to have played a part in getting marriage equality legislation to this point.”
Other weddings were planned across the country, and organizers said they expected more than 1,000 same-sex couples to marry on the first day.
The new law makes Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia and the third country in Asia to allow same-sex marriage, after Taiwan and Nepal.
Thailand is widely known to foreigners as one of the most open places in the world to LGBTQ people, but it took more than a decade of campaigning to legalize same-sex marriage. Many citizens of this traditional, predominantly Buddhist country remain conservative. This is especially true for older people. Nonetheless, it is becoming increasingly tolerant of social issues, especially in contrast to its neighbors.
In 2022, Thailand became the first country in the region to legalize the sale and recreational use of marijuana. As the law went into effect, the government distributed one million marijuana plants to households. Since then, hundreds of weed stores have sprung up in urban areas. And last year Parliament passed the Marriage Act with the King’s assent.
To commemorate the law, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra presided over a colorful photo shoot last week with dozens of couples planning their weddings.
“yarn. “The 23rd of 2025 will be the day when we all record history together and when the rainbow flag is gracefully planted in Thailand,” she posted on her Instagram. “Everyone’s love is legally recognized as honor and dignity.”
Thailand, which relies heavily on tourism, plans to promote itself internationally as an LGBTQ tourist destination.
Those planning to get married in a Bangkok ceremony included Amnad Sanghong, an import-export manager, and Apinun Manasang, a graphic designer, who have been together for 14 years.
Like many couples, Amnad, 42, and Afinun, 37, were motivated to get married to gain full legal rights, including the right to make medical decisions for their loved ones and adoption and adoption benefits in Thailand. there is. Inheritance law.
They came to Bangkok for a first-day celebration, and plan to have another wedding with family and friends when they return to the Prachinburi district, about 70 miles northeast of the city.
“Our families are very happy because they never expected us to get married,” said Aphinun.
When Rung Thiwa, 59, and Phan Ravi, 44, were rejected from their wedding in 2013, few Thais supported same-sex marriage.
“At that time, no one had the courage to come forward and demand their rights,” Mr. Panrabi said. “The costume is just a symbol because we knew it wasn’t allowed to be registered. “It was a symbol that we were partners in life.”
Their quest to get married was prompted by family health concerns and the realization that they lacked legal rights to authorize care for those they considered immediate family.
Afterwards, they began trying to secure their rights through various legal measures.
Their daughter, Chomchanok Thangkanopast, was born 24 years ago to Ms Rungtiwa and her then deceased husband. They knew they were gay when they got married. They both wanted a baby.
A few years later, Ms. Rungtiwa met Ms. Phanlavee and fell in love. They began living together and both considered Ms Chomchanok to be their daughter, but Ms Phan Ravi had no parental rights. The couple reached a roundabout solution. Ms Rungtiwa’s mother adopted Ms Phanlavee, legally making her her partner’s sister and her daughter’s aunt.
When Chomchanok turned 20, Pan Ravi adopted her without any legal barriers.
“I’m still an aunt, but I’m also a mother,” Ms. Panrabi said.
Now that they have the opportunity to get married, their lives will be much simpler, at least on the legal side.
“Even if society does not accept us, at least the law will accept us,” Mr. Rungtiwa said.
