The Marriage Equality Bill has been given the green light by the Thai Cabinet, as the country progresses towards the legalisation of same-sex marriage.
The Phuket Express reports that the draft bill was approved by Cabinet yesterday, November 21. If, as is likely, same-sex marriage is legalised, Thailand will become the third Southeast Asian country, after Taiwan and Nepal.
The Move Forward Party, which won the most votes in the May general election, but was blocked from forming a government, has long championed the bill. The bill passed its first parliamentary reading last year, but was stalled when parliament was dissolved ahead of the election.
The bill is now expected to be formally submitted at a Parliament session expected to begin on December 12.
PM Srettha Thavisin says his administration is committed to advancing LGBTQ+ rights and the government will ensure the bill progresses. He also cited two other important pieces of legislation, namely granting transgender people the right to change their gender indicators, along with a bill that aims to decriminalise prostitution.
SOURCE: The Phuket Express
