Thailand Lawmakers Pass Historic Marriage Equality Bill
TimeMAR 25 2024
Thai Parliament Passes Same-Sex Marriage Bill
Image copyright:Â Lauren DeCicca/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Thailand's parliament Wednesday passed a same-sex marriage bill, bringing the country closer to becoming the only Southeast Asian country to recognize same-sex unions.
The bill, which passed 399-10 in the lower house, must now pass the Senate and be approved by the king before it becomes law.
The bill would update the country's Civil and Commercial Code by changing the words "men and women" and "husband and wife" to "individuals" and "marriage partners," effectively granting LGBTQ couples legal, medical, and financial rights equal to heterosexual couples.
The Spin
Narrative A
This history-making vote brings Thai society one step closer to an equal society for all people. Legalizing same-sex marriage reduces social disparity across the nation and will benefit all Thai people, setting an example for other Asian countries.
Narrative B
Although this is an impressive step toward legalizing same-sex marriage in Thailand, this bill isn't law yet. Thailand is fairly tolerant but it's still a conservative country, and the success of this bill is not set in stone and the cultural context must be accounted for.
Metaculus Prediction
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