On September 24, 2024, Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage after King Maha Vajiralongkorn signed the Marriage Equality Bill into law.
The new legislation, set to take effect on January 22, 2025, grants same-sex couples equal rights, including adoption and inheritance, and uses gender-neutral language in place of “men” and “women.”
Following Taiwan and Nepal, this historic move positions Thailand as a leader in LGBTQ+ rights in Asia after years of advocacy.
