Thailand is set to become the first Southeast Asian country to legalise same-sex civil partnerships.
On 7 June, the country’s cabinet approved a new draft of the Civil Partnership Bill, which would allow same-sex couples to legally register their partnership.
While the proposed legislation avoids the term “marriage”, LGBTQ+ couples aged 17 and older will be allowed to jointly own property, adopt children and pass on inheritances.
Those under the age of 17 will need to get permission from their parents or legal guardian.
The landmark announcement comes a couple of years after the cabinet’s first approval of the bill in 2020.
However, the legislation was put on hold after officials requested the Justice Ministry to reassess the inclusive bill.
According to Bloomberg, the department made an array of amendments after consulting LGBTQ+ and religious groups.
Once the adjustments were implemented, the bill went to the Council State for further inspection before it was resubmitted to the cabinet.
With the new draft of the Civil Partnership Bill approved, it now heads to the country’s House of Representatives to be voted on, as reported by the Bangkok Post.
While the bill is arguably a monumental leap forward for LGBTQ+ rights in Thailand, it has been criticised by social activists as a cop-out for labelling same-sex unions as “civil partnerships” rather than “marriage”.
Shortly after the bill’s first approval in 2020, LGBTQ+ activist and Secretary-General of the progressive youth organisation Free Youth, Tattep Ruangprapaikitseree, said: “The civil partnerships bill isn’t a milestone for gender equality in Thailand, instead it’s an obstacle to reach marriage for all.
“Why not just call everyone, both traditional and non-traditional couples, as married partners, why does a special term have to be assigned to LGBT as ‘civil partner’. This is another form of discrimination in disguise. We don’t want anything special we just want to be treated like others.”
Pauline Ngarmpring, who is trans and who ran for prime minister in 2019, added: “The foundation of the same-sex union law draft isn’t based on equality. But it’s better than nothing. This is not a fight that can be finished in our generation.”
If the Civil Partnership Bill is approved by the House of Representatives, it will make Thailand only the second place in Asia to recognise same-sex unions after Taiwan legalised same-sex marriage 2019.
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