PREVIEW

Thailand’s LGBTQ Victory: Same-Sex Marriage Celebrated with Joy and Unit. Hundreds of same-sex couples celebrated love and equality in Thailand as the country became the largest in Asia and the first in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, Sky News reports. A mass LGBTQ wedding at a Bangkok shopping mall saw hundreds of couples register their marriages, marking the law’s historic implementation. Couple Porsch Apiwatsayree and Arm Panatkool, engaged for 11 years, finally tied the knot after 17 years together. "Love is the same, inside and out," Porsch said. The bill, passed in June 2024, makes Thailand the third Asian nation to legalize same-sex marriage after Taiwan and Nepal. Thailand stands out for its progressive stance on LGBTQ issues compared to its neighbors, many of which still oppose gay rights. Opinion polls consistently showed strong backing for equal marriage, reflecting a shift in societal attitudes in the conservative Buddhist country. Despite the legal milestone, couples like Porsch and Arm say societal acceptance still has room to grow within Thailand’s patriarchal family structures. The couple’s ceremony featured a traditional call-and-response between families, blending humor and emotion to unite both sides. Porsch highlighted the importance of family bonds, saying, "What I feel now is the closeness between people and families.” Arm summed up the historic day with a radiant smile, declaring, "Love is just love.”
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