On January 23, 2025, Thailand took a monumental step forward in LGBTQ+ rights as 1,832 same-sex couples across the country registered their marriages, marking the first day of the Marriage Equality Act’s implementation. The new law allows LGBTQ+ couples full legal rights and protections, including medical care, inheritance, and adoption rights. Thailand becomes the third Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage, after Taiwan in 2019 and Nepal in 2023, and the first in Southeast Asia.
The registrations were diverse in terms of gender and couple types, with 616 male couples, 1,216 female couples, and 960 male-female couples taking part. In Bangkok alone, 654 couples registered across the city’s districts. The historic occasion was celebrated at Siam Paragon with 185 couples registering their marriages. The event, which was attended by a range of LGBTQ+ couples, Thai celebrities, and diplomatic representatives, also featured officials from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office. Taiwan was recognized for being the first territory in Asia to legalize marriage equality.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was attending the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, expressed her support for the new law through a video message. She thanked former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, parliament members, senators, and LGBTQ+ activists for their contributions to the passing of the law. Speaking at the event, Thavisin emphasized Thailand’s commitment to inclusivity, contrasting the nation’s progress with the more restrictive stance of other nations. He also apologized to an elderly couple, aged 63 and 78, who had waited long for this moment, declaring, “Better late than never.”
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt also attended the event, voicing his support for the continued implementation of the law, while highlighting Thailand’s diversity and commitment to equality. The UN Human Rights Office for South-East Asia welcomed the act, which guarantees equal rights for all couples, regardless of gender identity and sexual orientation. However, the UN urged further legal reforms in Thailand, including anti-discrimination and gender recognition measures, noting ongoing challenges faced by LGBTI+ individuals in areas like employment, education, and healthcare.
Ploynapat Jirasukorn, 33, and Kwanporn Kongphet, 32, became the first same-sex couple to register their marriage in Bangkok. They expressed their hope that the new law would pave the way for greater LGBTQ+ rights in the country, particularly in the areas of adoption and the option to choose a title prefix, which remain outside the scope of the current legislation.