Hundreds of couples marry in joyful scenes as Thailand legalises same-sex marriage: ‘Today we will become one’
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Tommy Walker speaks to LGBT+ couples in Bangkok – many who have been together for decades – as the country’s historic marriage equality law comes into force. Hundreds of couples have been married in Bangkok as Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise same-sex marriage.
![[Ning and Bank got married in Bangkok on Thursday after 30 years of being a couple]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/23/12/newFile-1.jpg)
An amendment to Thailand’s Criminal and Civil Code means same-sex couples can legally wed in the country and benefit from the same rights as any other couple, including financial, medical, adoption and inheritance rights. Thailand is now the third place in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage, behind Taiwan and Nepal. LGBT+ groups hope to reach 1,448 wedding registrations on day one, a symbolic number that refers to the section of the Thai civil code where a key amendment changed the words husband and wife to "spouse".
![[Hundreds of same-sex couples married in Bangkok on Thursday]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/23/12/newFile-3.jpg)
The organisers, along with related agencies, plan to compile figures from ceremonies nationwide and submit a request to Guinness World Records to recognise Thailand as holder of the world's largest number of same-sex marriage registrations in a single day.
"One-four-four-eight symbolises the fight for marriage rights for all genders. It represents the dream and hope of building an inclusive society that accepts and celebrates love in all its forms," LGBT+ group Bangkok Pride said. At a mass wedding ceremony organised by the group group at the upmarket Siam Paragon shopping mall in Bangkok, rainbow flags, flowers, love hearts and smiles are all around.
