section_path: Abstract
section_name: Abstract
paragraph_text: Same-sex marriage has been legal in Thailand since 23 January 2025. Same-sex marriage legislation supported by the government of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and major opposition parties was introduced to the National Assembly in November 2023. It was passed by the House of Representatives by 400 votes to 10 on 27 March 2024, and by the Senate in a vote of 130 to 4 on 18 June. The law received royal assent from King Vajiralongkorn on 12 August 2024 and was published in the Royal Gazette on 24 September 2024. It took effect on 23 January 2025, 120 days after promulgation. Polling suggests that a significant majority of Thai people support the legal recognition of same-sex marriage.
  
  Thailand previously did not recognise any form of same-sex unions. The law replaced the terms "men and women" and "husband and wife" in the Civil and Commercial Code with the words "individuals" and "spouses", and also allows same-sex couples to jointly adopt children. Previously, several bills for civil partnerships and same-sex marriage had been introduced to Parliament but had failed to pass. Thailand was the first country in Southeast Asia, the second in Asia after Taiwan and the 38th in the world to legalise same-sex marriage.