Nearly 2,000 couples wed as Thailand legalises same-sex marriage

Thailand's same-sex marriage law took effect Thursday, making it the largest Asian nation to recognise equal marriage rights, including for transgender individuals, and to extend adoption and inheritance rights to all married couples.

Almost 2,000 same-sex and transgender couples married in Thailand on Thursday as the kingdom's equal marriage law went into effect in a first for Southeast Asia.

The milestone sees Thailand become by far the biggest nation in Asia to recognise equal marriage, after Taiwan and Nepal.

There were hugs and tears of joy at more than 800 district offices across the country where 1,754 same-sex couples had tied the knot by 4:30 pm (0930 GMT), according to the Ministry of the Interior.

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Lesbian couple Sumalee Sudsaynet, 64, and Thanaphon Chokhongsung, 59, were the first to wed at Bangkok's Bangrak district office, and the couple showed the media their engagement rings.

"We are so happy. We've been waiting for this day for 10 years," said Thanaphon, wearing a white gown.

The couple met a decade ago through a mutual friend and bonded over their passion for Buddhism and religious merit-making.

"The legalisation of same-sex marriage uplifts our dignity," Sumalee told AFP.

Kevin Pehthai Thanomkhet, a 31-year-old trans man, married his wife, Maple Nathnicha Klintgaworn, 39.

(AFP)


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