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LGBT+ couples get married at the Paragon shopping center in Bangkok on January 23, 2025. CHANAKARN LAOSARAKHAM / AFP The first LGBT+ couples said “yes” on Thursday, January 23, in Thailand, when the law came into force allowing same-sex marriage. After years of demands from the LGBT+ community, Thailand has become the most populous territory in Asia to recognize gay marriage, ahead of Taiwan and Nepal. Hundreds of couples are expected throughout the day in Thailand’s 878 districts and Bangkok’s 50 wards, which began registration in the morning. The procedure, essentially administrative, may only last a few minutes, but for the LGBT+ community, it is the culmination of a fight of several years in the name of equality. Mass celebrations notably began at a convention hall in one of the largest shopping malls in the heart of Bangkok, where officials were set up to manage the influx of requests. With concerts, speeches, exchange forums, drag shows, or even “pride” carpets with celebrities, events will enliven this “mall” all day long, the epicenter of the festivities in the kingdom, under the slogan “Love triumphs”, chosen by the organizers. Read also | Article reserved for our subscribers In Thailand, MPs approve marriage for all Read later The new law, promulgated by King Maha Vajiralongkorn in September, no longer includes gendered references, and gives homosexual couples the same rights in matters of inheritance, property or adoption only to heterosexual couples. “Today, the rainbow flag flies proudly over Thailand,” Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra wrote on X. “This marriage equality law marks the start of a greater awareness in Thai society of gender diversity,” continued the leader, currently in Switzerland for the Davos Forum. The law remained associated with his predecessor Srettha Thavisin, from the same party, Pheu Thai, who accelerated the legislative process, until her dismissal in August. “Recently, the leader of a country said there were only two genders. But I think we are more open-minded than that,” declared Srettha Thavisin, in an allusion to the new American president Donald Trump who signed after his inauguration a decree limiting to two, “male” and “female”, genres recognized by the State. Homosexuality illegal in many Asian countries Gay marriage sparks a rare consensus in Thailand, in a context of growing polarization between the conservative bloc favorable to the army and the king, and the progressive opposition supported by the younger generations . The Buddhist kingdom has long enjoyed a reputation for tolerance towards sexual and gender minorities, which attracts tourists from conservative neighboring countries. Le Monde Mémorable Test your general knowledge with the editorial staff of “Le Monde” Test your general knowledge with the editorial staff of “Le Monde” Discover Homosexuality is illegal in half of Asian countries, and can result in a prison sentence of several years , as in Burma or Malaysia, bordering Thailand, noted in 2020 a report from the International Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex People (Ilga). Also read the decryption | Article reserved for our subscribers LGBT+ pride march in Paris: the rise of transphobia at the heart of activist concerns Read later The chronic instability of Thai political life, between coups d’état and major popular protests, was proved right by the past previous attempts to authorize marriage for all. Despite progress on marriage, activists continue to deplore the lack of recognition of transgender or non-binary people, who still do not have the right to change the gender designation on their identity documents. Online harassment and digital surveillance campaigns have also targeted women’s rights and LGBT+ activists, in a context of increasing repression against any critical voice since the 2014 putsch, Amnesty International reported. last year. Read also | Article reserved for our subscribers Greece could become the first country with an Orthodox majority to authorize marriage for all Read later Le Monde with AFP Reuse this content
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Author : News7
Publish date : 2025-01-23 06:16:45
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