Predominantly Buddhist Thailand is moving to become the first Asian country to allow same-sex marriage.
The country of 65 million people has been at the forefront of the gay rights movements for decades despite the fact that sex between men remains illegal in most of its neighbouring countries.
Thailand decriminalised homosexuality in 1956 – before Britain and the United States – and has lifted bans on gays serving in the military, although homosexuality was deemed a mental illness in the country until 2002.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are widely accepted in Thai communities.
A parliamentary committee has drafted a landmark bill that will allow gay men and women who are at last 20 years old to enter into a civil partnership.
”The partnership will give [same-sex couples] rights, benefits and protection similar to most rights granted to heterosexual couples,” said Naras Savestanan, director of the Justice Ministry’s Department of Rights and Liberties Protection.
The bill will give same-sex couples benefits such as insurance, pensions, tax breaks and inheritance rights.
However, it will not automatically allow them to adopt or have custody of children as a couple.
MPs on the drafting committee have launched a petition for 10,000 signatures to support the legislation, a requirement by the Thai constitution and Parliament.
No group has yet voiced opposition to the bill although it is expected there will be some dissension from conservative MPs when debate in Parliament takes place within months.
Vietnam said in June it was considering lifting restrictions that prevent same-sex couples from marrying.
New Zealand last month allowed same-sex couples to marry while the ACT government is paving the way for same-sex couples to get married in Canberra before the end of the year after the introduction of the Marriage Equality Bill into the ACT Legislative Assembly.
Author: Lindsay Murdoch
Publication: The Sydney Morning Hearld
Date: 21 September 2013