Thailand's Historic Step Towards Same-Sex Marriage Equality

Thailand's lawmakers have made history by passing a legislation to recognize same-sex marriage, setting the stage for the country to become the first in Southeast Asia to guarantee marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples. The 500-member House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted to pass the 'marriage equality' bill, an amendment to the Civil and Commercial Code, in a final reading. This significant move signifies a historic step towards equality and inclusivity in the region, as the majority of lawmakers backed the legislation after more than three hours of debate. With as many as 400 lawmakers in support, only 10 opposed it, and five members either abstained or didn’t vote.