With an overwhelming majority, the Lower House of the Thai parliament (400 for, 10 against) voted in favour of implementing same-sex marriage. Although the bill still needs to pass through the Senate, this seems to be merely a formality.

Once the Thai king eventually signs the bill into law, Thailand will follow Taiwan and Nepal as the third country in Asia where homosexual couples can marry.

The law defines marriage as a union between two individuals, regardless of gender. Married couples will also be able to adopt children. All major parties in parliament expressed their support for opening up marriage during the 2023 election campaign. Over the past period, no less than four bills were introduced to address this issue, after which the parties together drafted one bill.

"I feel that equality has happened today. It's a historic day for the Thai parliament that stands to fight for the rights of LGBT+," said Tunyawaj Kamolwongwat, a gay MP from the opposition Move Forward, to the BBC.

Despite the victory, LGBT+ organisations hope that family rights in the country will soon be adjusted as well. A proposal to change "father" and "mother" in legislation to the gender-neutral "parent" did not pass.