Twelve years ago, a Thai couple headed to a wedding registry office to participate in a grand wedding ceremony on Valentine’s Day in Bangkok. Rungtiwa Thangkanopast wore a long white dress, and her partner, Phanlavee Chongtangsattam, a black tuxedo.
The officials welcomed them with open arms. But when they got to the secretary’s desk and showed their IDs, which showed that the woman was a woman, they were turned away. Marriage between two women, they were told, was not allowed.
On Thursday, couples finally got the chance to marry under Thailand’s new law that allows same-sex marriage. They joined hundreds of others in a huge wedding ceremony in Bangkok as the law took effect.
“I am happy and excited because we have been waiting for this day for a long time,” said Ms. Rungtiwa. “We have been dating for 20 years and we have had to hide from public disapproval. But now we stand proudly.”
The big wedding ceremony started early in the morning at Paragon Hall, an event and meeting center in one of Bangkok’s biggest shopping malls, Siam Paragon. It was hosted by the rights group, Naruemit Pride, whose name roughly translates to creating pride.
Dozens of dignitaries and journalists were on hand as the first nuptials began in the charcoal gray grand hall, with flower-decorated arches set as a backdrop for portraits of the newlyweds. Couples were married one at a time by officials who checked their documents and officially registered them as legally married.
“Today we feel secure and safe and happy,” said Ploynaplus Chirasukon, 33, who married her partner, Kwanporn Kongpetch, 32, in the first wedding of the event. “We are happy to have contributed to marriage equality legislation reaching 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.
With the new law, Thailand becomes the first country in Southeast Asia – and only the third country in Asia after Taiwan and Nepal – to allow same-sex marriage.
Thailand is widely seen by foreigners as one of the most open places in the world for LGBTQ people, but it has taken more than a decade of campaigning to legalize same-sex marriage. Many citizens of this traditional, Buddhist-dominated country remain conservative, especially the elderly. However, it is becoming more tolerant in social matters, especially in contrast to its neighbors.
In 2022, Thailand became the first country in the region to legalize the sale and use of recreational marijuana. The government provided households with 1 million cannabis plants as the law went into effect. Since then, hundreds of weed shops have sprung up in cities. Last year, Parliament passed the Marriage Act, which became law with royal assent.
To celebrate the law, Thailand’s prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, presided over a colorful photo shoot last week with dozens of couples planning to get married.
“Jan. 23, 2025, will be the day when we all make history together, that the rainbow flag is properly planted in Thailand,” he wrote on his Instagram account. “Everyone’s love is recognized by law with respect and dignity.”
Thailand, whose economy is heavily dependent on tourism, plans to begin promoting itself globally as an LGBTQ travel destination.
Among those planning to get married at the Bangkok ceremony were Amnad Sanghong, a manager at an export company, and Aphinun Manasang, an artist, who have been together for 14 years.
Like many other couples, Mr. Amnad, 42, and Mr. Aphinun, 37, is motivated to marry in order to obtain full legal rights, including the right to make decisions about the health care of a loved one, and to receive the benefit of adoption in Thailand and adoption. inheritance laws.
They came to Bangkok to be part of the first day celebration and will hold another wedding ceremony with family and friends when they return home to Prachinburi Province, about 70 kilometers northeast of the city.
“Our families are very happy because they never expected that we would get married,” said Mr. Apinun.
In 2013, when Mrs. Rungtiwa, 59, and Ms. Phanlavee, 44, were kicked out of the wedding ceremony, with few Thais advocating same-sex marriage.
“No one had the courage at that time to come forward and demand their rights,” said Ms. Phanlavee. “The clothes were just a symbol because we knew we would not be allowed to register. They were a sign that we were life partners.”
Their desire to get married started with fear for the health of the family which made them realize that they did not have the legal right to authorize the care of those they considered close family members.
After that, they started trying to get their rights through various legal means.
Their daughter, Chomchanok Thangkanopast, was born 24 years ago to Mrs. Rungtiwa and her ex-husband, who has passed away. They knew when they got married that they were gay. They both wanted a child.
After a few years, Mrs. Rungtiwa met Ms. Phanlavee and they fell in love. They started living together, and although they both looked at Ms. Chomchanok as their daughter, Ms. Phanlavee had no parental rights. The couple reached a roundabout solution: Mrs. Rungtiwa took Ms. Phanlavee, officially made her sister to her partner and aunt to their daughter.
When Ms. When Chomchanok turned 20, Ms. Phanlavee took him without legal restrictions.
“I’m still an aunt, but I’m also a mother,” said Ms. Phanlavee.
Now, since they have the chance to get married, their life will be much easier, at least in legal terms.
“Although the community will not accept us,” said Ms. Rungtiwa, “at least the law will accept us.”
