Thailand Makes History with Mass Same-Sex Marriage Ceremony

International Desk

For the first time in history, hundreds of same-sex couples tied the knot in Thailand on Thursday, marking the nation as the first in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriage.

A grand mass wedding was held in an upscale shopping mall in Bangkok, with over 200 same-sex couples participating. Dressed in white, traditional Thai attire, Western suits, and formal wear, the couples celebrated this groundbreaking event. LGBTQ organizations planned to register over 1,000 marriages to commemorate the occasion.

At the same time, the Thai parliament raised rainbow flags, and large parades were organized in various locations, including shopping malls. Organizers announced plans to submit the day’s marriage records to Guinness World Records in an attempt to set a new record for the most same-sex marriages registered in one day.

Among the participants were Ploynaplas Chirasukon, 33, and Kwanporn Kongpatch, who shared their 17-year-long relationship story. Chirasukon said, “We met in school and have overcome countless obstacles together. Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for us. We hope for a future of greater equality.”

LGBTQ groups in Thailand anticipate exceeding 1,448 registered marriages, a symbolic nod to the revised Civil Code that replaces “husband” and “wife” with the term “spouses.”

Thailand already prohibits discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, earning its reputation as one of the most LGBTQ-friendly countries globally. The new law and widespread social recognition signify a promising step toward broader equality.