H undreds of couples have been married in Bangkok as Thailand became the first country in southeast Asia to legalise same-sex marriage. Thailand is the third country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage, behind Taiwan and Nepal.
At a mass wedding ceremony organised by the group at the upmarket Siam Paragon shopping mall in Bangkok, rainbow flags, flowers, love hearts and smiles are all around. Hundreds of same-sex couples have registered to get married, including a police officer, and they proudly show their marriage certificates to those in attendance. Nina Chetniphat Chuadkhunthod, a transgender woman, says she is happy to have been able to marry her partner of more than two decades.
Ning and Bank also got married at the Siam Paragon wedding event, wearing matching green suits. They have waited for this day for three decades. Same-sex marriages were also taking place throughout the Thai capital, including at local district offices. I was a bit excited because we will be one. Not strangers. We got married at 8. Thanadech, 35, is a transgender male.
He lives with his new wife, and her son from a previous relationship, in Bangkok. They longed to get married and were ecstatic about finally being able to tie the knot.
Prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, currently in Davos attending the World Economic Forum, posted a message on Facebook celebrating the news of the law.
