Jump to content

LGBTQ rights in Thailand

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from LGBT culture in Thailand)

LGBTQ rights in Thailand
Thailand
StatusLegal since 1956;
age of consent equalized in 1997
Gender identityChange of legal gender not recognised even if the applicant has undergone sex reassignment surgery (bill proposed to allow gender changes)[1][2]
MilitarySince 2005
Discrimination protectionsSexual orientation and gender identity protections since 2015
Family rights
Recognition of relationshipsSame-sex marriage pending for January 22nd, 2025[3]
AdoptionPending for January 22nd, 2025[4]

The rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people in Thailand are regarded as some of the most comprehensive of those in Asia.[5][6][7] Both male and female same-sex sexual activity are legal. Same sex marriage was signed into law in 2024, and will come into force in January 2025.[8] Thailand was the first Asian UN member state to pass a comprehensive same-sex marriage law, as well as the first in Southeast Asia and the 37th in the world. About eight percent of the Thai population, five million people, are thought to be in the LGBT demographic.[9]

In 2013, the Bangkok Post said that "while Thailand is viewed as a tourist haven for same-sex couples, the reality for locals is that the law, and often public sentiment, is not so liberal."[10] A 2014 report by the United States Agency for International Development and the United Nations Development Programme said that LGBT people "still face discrimination affecting their social rights and job opportunities",[11] and "face difficulty gaining acceptance for non-traditional sexuality, even though the tourism authority has been promoting Thailand as a gay-friendly country".[11]

Changes in attitudes and public policy towards LGBT issues began to occur in Thailand during the 1990s and, in particular, the early part of the 21st century. In 2015, Thailand enacted a comprehensive anti-discrimination law, which covered sexual orientation and gender identity. In 2022, a group of bills were introduced in the Thai parliament that would have granted either civil partnerships or full marriage for same-sex couples, but did not reach their final readings before parliament was dissolved for the 2023 elections and consequently lapsed.[12][13] In November 2023, the Srettha Thavisin-led Cabinet approved a draft same-sex marriage bill,[7][14] which was considered by Parliament on 21 December 2023 along with three similar drafts proposed by opposition parties and the civil sector. All four passed overwhelmingly and was combined into one bill, which passed the House of Representatives on 27 March 2024 and the Senate on 18 June 2024.[15][16]

In 2017, Bangkok was named the second-most gay-friendly city in Asia by online housing platform Nestpick, due to its LGBT dating scene, nightlife, openness and safety.[17] The Tourism Authority of Thailand has launched a global project entitled "Go Thai Be Free",[18] to encourage LGBTQ+ tourists from around the world and raise its international profile as an LGBTQ+ friendly country.[19]

Legality of same-sex sexual activity

[edit]

Private, adult, consensual, and non-commercial sodomy was decriminalized in Thailand in 1956.[20] However, same-sex attraction and transgender identities were still seen as socially unacceptable in many cases: those whose gender expression or behavior falls out of social norms are less likely to be tolerated or accepted.[21] Through the Penal Code Amendment Act of 1997 (Thai: พระราชบัญญัติแก้ไขเพิ่มเติมประมวลกฎหมายอาญา-(ฉบับที่-14)-พ.ศ.-2540), the age of consent was set at fifteen years regardless of gender or sexual orientation.[22] In 2002, the Ministry of Health announced that homosexuality would no longer be regarded as a mental illness or disorder.[23] In 2007, the Thai Government expanded the definition of a sexual assault and rape victim to include both women and men.[24] The government also prohibited marital rape, with the law stipulating that women or men can be victims.[24]

Thailand has officially legalized same-sex marriage, becoming the first Southeast Asian nation to do so after King Maha Vajiralongkorn approved the bill. The law, effective in 120 days, grants same-sex couples full legal rights, marking a significant milestone for LGBTQ+ rights in the region.[25]

Recognition of same-sex relationships and marriage

[edit]
Main article: Recognition of same-sex unions in Thailand
A sign reading "สมรสเท่าเทียม" (Thai for "equal marriage"; a recurring slogan calling for same-sex marriage legalisation in Thailand) at Bangkok Pride 2022

Thailand is set to begin performing same-sex marriages in 2025.[26][27] Thai opinion polls have consistently favoured legal recognition of same-sex marriages.[9][5][28]

In June 2020, Move Forward Party deputy Tunyawat Kamolwongwat introduced a bill to legalize same-sex marriage.[29] The public consultation on the bill was launched on 2 July.[30][31]

"Marriage is when a man and a woman are willing to live together, to build a husband and wife relationship to reproduce their offspring, under the morals, traditions, religion and the laws of each society. Marriage is, therefore, reserved for only a man and a woman."

-A Constitutional Court judge, 2021

In 2021, the Constitutional Court ruled that Section 1448 of the Civil and Commercial Code interpreting marriages as only between women and men is constitutional, but after the release of full ruling, one phrase mentioned that members of the LGBTQ community cannot reproduce, as it is against nature, and they are unlike other animals with unusual behaviours or physical characteristics. The verdict cites LGBTQ as a different "species" that needs to be separated and studied as it is incapable of creating the "delicate bond" of human relationships.[32] The text was criticised by the LGBT community as homophobic and politically incorrect.[33]

In 2022, a group of bills concerning same-sex unions passed their first readings in the Thai National Assembly. These include the Marriage Equality Bill proposed by the opposition Move Forward Party, which would amend the current marriage law to include couples of any gender, and the government-proposed Civil Partnership Bill, which would instead introduce civil partnerships as a separate category, granting some but not all rights given to married couples.[34][35][36] Despite several amendments, neither bill passed the Parliament before the end of the session.

On 14 February 2023, Bangkok's Dusit district became the first jurisdiction in Thailand to issue partnership certificates, which are legally non-binding, to same-sex couples.[37]

In November 2023 Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin of the Pheu Thai Party announced that his Cabinet had approved a draft same-sex marriage law.[14] Besides the government's version, three similar draft bills were also submitted by the Move Forward Party, the Democrat Party, and the civil sector, with all four entering parliamentary debate on 21 December.[38][39][15][40][41]

In March 2024, Thailand's lower house passed the bill with 400 voting in favor to 10 opposing it. All major parties in the country had pledged to support the bill.[42] On April 1, the senate approved the first reading of the bill with 147 votes for, 4 against, and 7 abstaining.[43] On 18 June 2024, Thailand passed the same-sex marriage bill with the approval of 130 of the 152 members of the Senate in attendance, with 4 voting against it and 18 abstaining. Thailand was the first Asian UN member state to approve a comprehensive same-sex marriage law, as well as the first in Southeast Asia and the 37th in the world. It received the king's formal endorsement and was published in the Royal Gazette on 24 September 2024, and will become effective within 120 days.[44] The amendment to the Civil and Commercial Code replaces the terms "men and women" and "husband and wife" with the words "individuals" and "spouses". The law also allows same-sex couples to jointly adopt children.[45]

Adoption and parenting

[edit]

Only married couples may adopt in Thailand with the exception of single women, who are allowed to petition for the adoption of a special-needs child (Thai law on what qualifies a child as special-needs remains unclear). The draft legislation working its way through the Thai bureaucracy in late 2018 would ensure only property and inheritance rights and some other rights of same-sex couples, but not their rights to public welfare, tax benefits or child adoption.[9][46]

Thailand had long been a popular destination for surrogacy arrangements. In 2015, however, the Thai Parliament passed a law banning foreigners from travelling to Thailand to have commercial surrogacy arrangements. Only married couples as Thai residents are allowed to make commercial surrogacy contracts. In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is restricted to married couples.[47]

Discrimination protections

[edit]
Chiang Mai Pride Parade of 2019, commemorating the Sao Saw Et riot in 2009

None of the various Thai constitutions has mentioned sexual orientation or gender identity. Natee Theerarojnapong, of the Human Rights Commission, and Anjana Suvarnananda, a lesbian rights advocate, campaigned unsuccessfully for the inclusion of "sexual identity" in the Interim Constitution of 2006 and the Constitution of 2007.[24] The 2007 Constitution did contain a broad prohibition of "unfair discrimination" based on "personal status" and promises to respect various civil liberties in accordance with "state security" and "public morality".

The Gender Equality Act B.E. 2558 (Thai: พระราชบัญญัติความเท่าเทียมระหว่างเพศ พ.ศ.๒๕๕๘) was passed on 13 March 2015 and came into force on 9 September 2015.[48] This act bans discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, and was the first law in Thailand to contain language mentioning LGBT people. Under the law, discrimination against a male, female or "a person who has a sexual expression different from that person's original sex" is punishable by up to six months in prison and a fine of up to 20,000 baht.[49][50] However, the law specified an exception for "education, religion and the public interest", which was strongly criticised by women's rights groups.[51] According to a 2021 Human Rights Watch report, implementation of the law has been spotty and inadequate.[52] A 2019 UNDP report found that only 44% of LGBT respondents knew about this law, compared to 50% of non-LGBT respondents.[53]

Gender identity and expression

[edit]

Sex reassignment operations (gender-affirming surgery) have been performed in Thailand since 1975, and Thailand is among the most popular destinations globally for patients seeking such operations.[54] Puberty blockers and cross sex hormones are also available to minors in Thailand.[55][56] Transgender people are quite common in Thai popular entertainment, television shows and nightclub performances, however, transgender people lack various legal rights compared to the rest of the population,[57][58] and may face discrimination from society.[10][59]

Transgender people face substantial barriers to employment, including full-time work, executive positions or promotions, according to 2015 research for the International Labour Organization.[60] Discrimination in job applications also often discourages transgender people from seeking further employment opportunities or entering the job market. The research also found that they are faced with "daily discrimination and humiliation" which often cuts short their careers.[60] An editorial in the Bangkok Post in 2013 noted that "we don't find transgenders as high-ranking officials, doctors, lawyers, scientists, or teachers in state-run schools and colleges. Nor as executives in the corporate world. In short, the doors of government agencies and large corporations are still closed to transgender women."[57]

In 2007, the Thai National Assembly debated allowing transgender people to legally change their names after having a sex change operation.[11] The legislature passed a law named Persons' Name Act which created an avenue for transgender people to change their names but not their legal gender. Approval of the request for name change is not guaranteed, as it is up to the discretion of individual administrators.[52]

Post-operation male-to-female transgender government employees are not granted the right to wear female uniforms at work,[61] and are still expected to perform military service.[11] Specific cases of inequality include a hospital which refused to allow a transgender woman to stay in a woman's ward, even though she had undergone sex reassignment surgery.[11]

In 2014, a Matthayom 1 textbook was criticized for discrimination and lack of gender sensitivity, due to a description of transgender people as suffering from gender confusion, khon long phet (คนหลงเพศ),[62] and illustrations in the textbook featuring performances by transgender dancers.[62] Critics argued that the word long (หลง: 'confused') had negative connotations, and that "transgender" or kham phet (ข้ามเพศ) was more suitable.[62] It was reported that officials at the Ministry of Education would investigate the matter.[62]

In July 2019, a proposal to regulate sex changes for transgender individuals was presented to the National Assembly. Among others, the proposed bill would allow those who have undergone sex reassignment surgery to change their legal gender on official documents. It also covers name changes, marriage rights and military conscription.[63][64]

Military service

[edit]

In Thailand, both men and women are allowed to serve in the army.[65] In 2005, the Thai Armed Forces lifted their ban on LGBT people serving in the military. Prior to this reform, LGBT people were exempted as suffering from a "mental disorder".[66]

All Thai citizens aged 21 and over who were assigned male at birth are required to participate in military conscription. Unless exempt, they must either volunteer to serve between six months and a year, or participate in a lottery drawing that determines who will serve from one to two years. Conscripts have been reported to sometimes face harassment, violence, and even human rights violations, and conscription is viewed with anxiety by many. Transgender women are exempt from conscription on the basis of having "gender identity disorder", but only if they can "prove" their gender. If a trans woman has undergone at least some gender-affirming medical procedures, such as hormone replacement therapy or breast augmentation, she has a high chance of being exempt after going through a medical examination which can be stressful and humiliating to some. Those who have not are required to submit to extensive psychological evaluation.[67][68]

Blood donation

[edit]

In Thailand, transgender women who have not had sex with a male partner,[69] as well as women who have sex with women (WSW) are allowed to donate blood, but men who have sex with men (MSM) are not.[70] In May 2009[71] and October 2021,[70] the Thai Red Cross Society reaffirmed its ban on MSM becoming blood donors, despite campaigns to change this policy. In 2021, the organization stated that "it is not yet ready to relax the strict criteria for blood donors" for MSM because of the higher risk of HIV. The rate of HIV in first-time blood donors is 10 times higher than the same rate in other Asian countries. The Thai Red Cross defended this ban as practical as opposed to discriminatory. It also stated that the rate of HIV among donors must fall below 1 in 100,000 before the criteria for donations by MSM are relaxed.[70]

Living conditions

[edit]

LGBT lexicon

[edit]
Main article: Gender identities in Thailand
Kathoey dancers in Pattaya, December 2011

The Thai word for "gay" or "queer" is เกย์ (RTGS: ke). The term katoey or kathoey (Thai: กะเทย; RTGS: kathoei) refers to transgender women or effeminate gay men. Thai society perceives kathoeys as belonging to a third gender alongside male and female. The term dee (ดี้) alludes to homosexual or bisexual women. Thai has also adopted the word "lesbian" from English: (Thai: เล็สเบียน or เลสเบี้ยน; RTGS: letbian).

The Thai language recognises several other gender and sexual identities, including tom (ทอม), from the English "tomboy", which refers to women who dress, act, and speak in a masculine fashion. Toms are not necessarily lesbian or bisexual, but may be perceived as such by others. Other identities include angees, kathoeys who are attracted to toms, and adams, men who are attracted to toms.

Homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and violence

[edit]

In 2009, a scheduled pride parade in Chiang Mai was violently protested by some members of the local community leading to its eventual cancellation. The incident would later be known as "Saturday the 21st" and is considered an important event of violent against the LGBT community in Thailand.[72] It is considered an important event in Thai LGBT history[73] and was compared to the Stonewall Riots in the US.[74] The date, 21 February, has been annually observed as the day against violence against LGBT in Thailand.[75]

In 2016, Paisarn Likhitpreechakul, a board member of the Sogi Foundation, wrote an op-ed in the Bangkok Post warning of so-called corrective rape being widely used to "cure" lesbians of their sexual orientation, highlighting the case of a father in Loei who confessed to raping his 14-year-old daughter for four years to stop her from socialising with tomboys. Paisarn expressed further concern that such practices were being normalised in Thai society, and that the true number of such cases was far higher, as many murders of Thai LGBTs are categorised as crimes of passion, because the Thai legal system does not include the concept of "hate crimes". The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights identified murder, beatings, kidnappings, rape and sexual assault against LGBT people as examples of homophobic and transphobic violence and noted that violence against LGBT people "tends to be especially vicious compared to other bias-motivated crimes".[76]

A 2019 UNDP survey showed that 53% of LGBT respondents had faced verbal harassment, 16% have been sexually assaulted, and 42% have pretended to be straight in order to be accepted in various settings. 47.5% of the respondents had experienced at least one form of discrimination from within their family. As a result of stigma and discrimination, 49% of the LGBT respondents said that they have contemplated suicide, and 17% that they had attempted to take their lives. Despite their high need for mental health services, LGBT respondends reported difficulty in finding access to them, as well as discrimination in health care. Two LGBT community subgroups reported the highest levels of discrimination: trans women and bisexual men. 61% of trans women reported verbal abuse, 22% shared they had been sexually assaulted, 11% faced physical abuse, and 8% reported police harassment. Among bisexual men, 14% reported having lost friends because of their sexuality, and 9% have lost their homes because of it.[53]

The same report found that 32% of trans women surveyed faced discrimination in the workplace. The number was 10% for the LGBT community overall.[53]

Education

[edit]

On 26 December 1996, in a report in the Bangkok Post, the Rajabat Institute Council, the collective governing body of all of Thailand's colleges, declared that it would ban homosexuals from enrolling in any of its teacher training schools, the idea of Deputy Education Minister Suraporn Danaitangtrakul.[77] The announcement was strongly criticised by human rights groups and many others, who urged the repeal of the policy. On 25 January 1997, Danaitangtrakul proposed that the Institute set new criteria to ban people with "improper personalities", but not specific groups such as homosexuals.

According to a 2014 UNDP report, LGBT youth can face significant barriers to education because of their identities. A third of surveyed LGBT students had been physically harassed, a quarter sexually. Bullying of LGBT students ranged from verbal to severe physical or sexual abuse. The 2015 Gender Equality Act B.E. 2558 makes exceptions for discrimination in educational settings. Toms (masculine women) appeared to be one of the most harassed groups.[78]

The report found that there was no mandatory education on sexual orientation or gender identity. Sexual health education was also found to be inadequate, which can contribute to unsafe sex prevalence and the spread of HIV among the LGBT community. Some SexEd textbooks contained references to homosexuality as "abnormal". Furthermore, most Thai schools require uniforms, and students are expected to wear a gendered uniform according to the sex they were assigned at birth. This discriminatory policy leads to discomfort and mental trauma for transgender students and many drop out of school. A lack of educational qualifications leads many LGBT Thais to "sex work or other forms of high-risk behaviour and risky employment in order to make ends meet."[78]

Prisons

[edit]

For several years, the official policy of Thai prisons has been to respect and recognize sexual diversity, placing inmates in cells based on their stated gender and sexual orientation.[79] Homosexual male prisoners, like all male prisoners, have their heads shaved. Female inmates are not allowed to wear make-up, but gay male inmates are.[79] A prisoner's gender is "verified" by a prison doctor, meaning that only trans women or kathoey (transgender women or effeminate gay men) who have transitioned medically are placed with other women. However, kathoeys who have not transitioned medically can request to be placed with other kathoeys like them which, according to a 2016 interview, can be safer. According to the Department of Corrections, there were 4,448 LGBT prisoners in the country in 2016. Of these, 1,804 were katoey, 352 were gay (เกย์), 1,247 were tom (ทอม; female with masculine characteristics), 1,011 were dee (ดี้; female homosexual with feminine characteristics), and 34 were male-to-female transgender people.[79]

In 2016, the Department of Corrections had plans to build a central prison for only LGBT inmates. However, plans were delayed because of concerns about placing LGBT inmates away from their hometowns and relatives.[79]

Politics

[edit]
Tanwarin Sukkhapisit, the first transgender MP in Thailand

Ahead of the 2019 general election, several political parties expressed support for same-sex marriage and LGBT rights. The Future Forward Party called for the legalisation of same-sex marriage and amendments to the official school curriculum "so that it no longer propagates stereotypes and prejudice against the LGBTQ community". The Mahachon Party, the Thai Local Power Party, the Polamuang Thai Party, the Thai Liberal Party, the Puea Chat Party, the Commoners' Party and the Democrat Party all expressed support for same-sex marriage. The Pheu Thai Party, the largest party in Parliament in 2019, also supports same-sex marriage. The Thai Raksa Chart Party, banned in March 2019 due to the involvement of Princess Ubol Ratana, stated that it supported civil partnerships for same-sex couples.[80]

In March 2019, transgender filmmaker Tanwarin Sukkhapisit of the Future Forward Party was elected to the Thai Parliament, becoming its first ever transgender MP.[81] Three other transgender candidates from the same party, Tunyawaj Kamonwongwat, Nateepat Kulsetthasith, and Kawinnath Takey, were also elected.[82]

Support for same-sex marriage was promoted by both the Pheu Thai Party and the Move Forward Party, the de facto successor to the Future Forward Party, during the 2023 election. While the Move Forward Party won the plurality of seats in the House of Representatives, the resulting government was formed by Pheu Thai with the support of more conservative parties in the Senate.[83]

LGBT life

[edit]
A parade in Bangkok Pride 2022, Si Lom

Thailand has long had a reputation of tolerance when it comes to LGBT people; there are many LGBT nightclubs and bars in the country and the first Thai LGBT magazine, Mithuna, began publication in 1983.[84]

However, in 1989, LGBT activist Natee Teerarojjanapongs described the situation as more complicated; although LGBT citizens do not face direct repression from the state, instead "it is a question of subtle negation through invisibility and a lack of social awareness about homosexual people", and although people acknowledge the existence of homosexuality, "they are still not used to the idea of openly gay people. Even fewer have any understanding of the notion of lesbian and gay rights".[85]

This began to change in the 1990s with more public events, such as LGBT pride festivals that were held every year from 1999 to 2007 in Bangkok, until internal disputes within the LGBT community and arguments with the festival's financial backers prevented future events from being held.[86] Bangkok Pride was expected to take place again in November 2017, the first time in 11 years, but was postponed due to the national one year mourning period for King Bhumibol Adulyadej.[87]

In the city of Phuket, pride events have been held annually since 1999.[88] The second parade in the northern city of Chiang Mai in 2009 stirred such hostility that it had to be canceled. As participants were preparing to march, a local political group surrounded the compound where they had gathered, shouting insults through megaphones and throwing fruit and rocks at the building.[89] However, ten years later, more than 500 people including some politicians marched in the Chiang Mai Pride parade on 21 February 2019.[90][91]

Songkran is the Thai New Year's national holiday. Songkran falls on 13 April every year, but the holiday period extends from 14 to 15 April. It has taken on particular meaning in recent years for LGBT residents and visitors, as it is held simultaneously to the Songkran Bangkok Gay Circuit Party, considered the largest such gay celebration in Asia. The event celebrated its 14th anniversary in 2019.[92][93][94]

Media

[edit]
A sign reading "LGBTQ+ are not joke" at Bangkok Pride 2022

The entertainment industry accepts us with open arms because we poke fun at ourselves and make people laugh. But if we want to be taken seriously in a field like medicine we are not afforded the same courtesy.

— Prempreeda Pramoj Na Ayutthaya, transgender rights activist and programme officer at UNESCO

Since the 1980s, many LGBT-themed publications have been available in Thailand. LGBT characters in Thai films have also been common since the 1970s, often as comic relief, although it was not until the new wave of Thai cinema in the late 1990s that Thai films began to examine LGBT characters and issues in more depth. Since 2014, and especially since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant rise in the popularity and number of Thai LGBT television shows, also known as Boys' Love (BL) or Y series, which depict positive and diverse stories of male-male, and sometimes female-female, romance. While some of the shows touch on issues of inequality like same-sex marriage, discrimination, and violence, the genre has also faced criticism for presenting "a soft-focus version" of the realities of life for Thai queer people.[95]

Censorship does not affect LGBT-related media directly, but pornography[96] and sex toys[97] are illegal in Thailand.

Demographics

[edit]

According to 2018 estimates from LGBT Capital, there were about 4.2 million LGBT people in Thailand.[98]

Public opinion

[edit]

According to a 2015 opinion poll, 89 percent of Thais would accept a colleague who is gay or lesbian, 80 percent would not mind if a family member was LGBT, and 59 percent were in favour of legalizing same-sex marriage.[5][99]

According to a 2019 YouGov poll of 1,025 respondents, 63 percent of Thais supported the legalisation of same-sex partnerships, with 11 percent against and 27 percent preferring not to answer. 69 percent of people aged 18 to 34 supported civil partnerships, with 10 percent opposed. Legalisation was supported by 56 percent of those aged between 35 and 54 (33 percent opposed), and 55 percent of those aged 55 and over (13 percent opposed). 66 percent of those with university degrees were in favour (10 percent opposed), and 57 percent of those without university degrees (12 percent opposed). 68 percent of those with a high income supported civil partnerships (7 percent opposed), and 55 percent of those with a low income (13 percent opposed). 68 percent of women responded in favour (7 percent opposed), and 57 percent of men (14 percent opposed).[100]

A 2019 report by the UNDP found that non-LGBT people had favourable attitudes towards LGBT people as a whole, but that the level of support they have for LGBT rights and access to services drops the closer the LGBT person in question is to them (e.g. family member of coworker). As a whole, significant levels of support for inclusive laws and policies were found, but some topics, like changing gender markers, were more controversial and less supported than others, like equal rights to services.[53]

According to a 2022 poll by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), 93 percent of Thais accepted LGBT friends or colleagues, 91 percent would accept a LGBT person as a family member, and 80 percent supported same-sex marriage.[101] According to Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsuthin, a government survey conducted between October 31 and November 14 in 2023 showed that 96.6 percent of Thai public supported the same-sex marriage bill.[102][103][104]

Summary table

[edit]
Same-sex sexual activity legal Yes (Since 1956)
Equal age of consent (15) Yes (Since 1997)
Anti-discrimination laws in employment Yes (Since 2015)
Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services Yes (Since 2015)
Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas (incl. indirect discrimination, hate speech) No (Never specified)
Anti-discrimination laws in education No (Never specified)
Same-sex marriage Yes (From Jan 22, 2025)
Recognition of same-sex couples Yes (From Jan 22, 2025)
Stepchild adoption by same-sex couples Yes (From Jan 22, 2025)
Joint adoption by same-sex couples Yes (From Jan 22, 2025)
LGBT people allowed to serve openly in the military Yes (Since 2005)
Right to change legal gender No (Pending)[2]
Right to change sex surgically Yes (Never specified)[105]
Third gender option No (Pending)[2]
Adoption by single people regardless of sexual orientation No (Except by single females for children with 'special needs')
Conversion therapy banned on minors yes
Intersex minors protected from invasive surgical procedures No
Homosexuality declassified as an illness Yes (Since 2002)
Access to IVF for lesbians Yes (As part of a married couple, from Jan 22, 2025)[106]
Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples yes (Only heterosexual married couples can access surrogacy)
MSMs allowed to donate blood No (Indefinite deferral period)

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Proposed law would allow trans Thais to legally change gender". Coconuts Bangkok. 26 July 2017. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Boonkong, Carla; O' Connor, Pranee (20 February 2024). "Full steam ahead on LGBTQ rights in Thailand, new gender identity law ordered by the PM at cabinet". Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  3. ^ "'Monumental step as Thai King signs same-sex marriage into law': Thailand to become first Southeast Asian nation to legalize same-sex marriage". 24 September 2024.
  4. ^ "'Monumental step as Thai King signs same-sex marriage into law': Thailand to become first Southeast Asian nation to legalize same-sex marriage". 24 September 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Villadiego, Laura (16 September 2018). "Land of lady boys? Thailand is not the LGBTI paradise it appears". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 16 May 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  6. ^ Condon, Ali (23 November 2023). "Thailand Cabinet approves marriage equality bill, submits it to parliament". PinkNews. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  7. ^ a b Browning, Bil (13 December 2023). "Thailand to legalize same-sex marriage". LGBTQ Nation. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Thailand's same-sex marriage bill gets royal endorsement". France 24. 25 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  9. ^ a b c Limsamarnphun, Nophakhun (24 November 2018). "More rights for same-sex couples". The Nation. Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  10. ^ a b Chaiyot Yongcharoenchai (8 September 2013). "The two faces of Thai tolerance". Bangkok Post. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  11. ^ a b c d e Kamjan, Chananthorn (17 September 2014). "Gays still face a battle, report says". Bangkok Post. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  12. ^ "Parliament accepts public draft bills on same-sex marriage, gender identity". Asia News Network. 29 September 2023. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Thai lawmakers to debate same-sex marriage equality". The Straits Times. 19 December 2023. ISSN 0585-3923. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  14. ^ a b "Marriage equality bill for parliament next month". Bangkok Post. Bangkok Post Public Company. Reuters. 21 November 2023. Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  15. ^ a b "Thailand's lower house passes bill to legalize same-sex marriage". CNN. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  16. ^ "'Monumental step forward': Thailand to become first Southeast Asian nation to legalize same-sex marriage". CNN. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  17. ^ "Happy Pride Month! Bangkok named second-best LGBT city in Asia". Coconuts Bangkok. 28 June 2017. Archived from the original on 30 July 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  18. ^ "Thailand showcases LGBT credentials". TTG. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  19. ^ McCarthy, AnneMarie. "Thailand wants to become a more LGBT-friendly destination". Lonely Planet. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  20. ^ UNDP, USAID (2014). Being LGBT in Asia: Thailand Country Report Archived 28 September 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Bangkok. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  21. ^ Suriyasarn, Busakorn (2014). Gender identity and sexual orientation in Thailand (PDF) (PDF). p. 40. ISBN 9789221292562. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 January 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  22. ^ "Penal Code Amendment Act (No. 14) B.E. 2540 (1997)". www.ilo.org. International Labour Organization. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  23. ^ "Gay Rights in Thailand 2007". Archived from the original on 3 October 2009.
  24. ^ a b c "Gay Thailand News and Reports 2007". Global Gayz. Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  25. ^ "Southeast Asian country poised to become first to allow same-sex marriages after law receives royal assent". Independent. 25 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  26. ^ "Thailand's Civil Partnership Bill sparks further debate on same-sex couple rights". CNA. Archived from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  27. ^ Thanthong-Knight, Randy (16 March 2021). "Thailand Has Three Paths to Recognizing Same-Sex Partnerships". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  28. ^ "Nida Poll: Most Thais agree with same sex marriage". Thai PBS. 5 July 2015. Archived from the original on 21 November 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  29. ^ Maneechote, Pear (15 June 2020). "Move Forward Party to push bill granting same-sex marriage in Thailand". Thai Enquirer. Archived from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  30. ^ "Marriage law amendments now up for public consultation". Prachatai. 8 July 2020. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  31. ^ "ร่างพระราชบัญญัติแก้ไขเพิ่มเติมประมวลกฎหมายแพ่งและพาณิชย์ (ฉบับที่ ..) พ.ศ. ..." Thailand Parliament. Archived from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  32. ^ "Subtle meanings behind Thai Constitutional Court's ruling against same-sex marriage". nationthailand.com Bangkok. 8 December 2021. Archived from the original on 26 February 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  33. ^ "Constitutional Court's full verdict enrages LGBT community, rights defenders". www.thaipbsworld.com. 2012. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  34. ^ Sattaburuth, Aekarach (15 June 2022). "Parliament passes marriage equality bill, 3 other drafts". Bangkok Post. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  35. ^ "Parliament passes 1st reading of Marriage Equality Bill, paving way for same sex marriage". Thai PBS World. 15 June 2022. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  36. ^ Valentin, Declercq. "Gay Rights in Thailand (History) - G.A.M. Legal Alliance". gam-legalalliance.com. G.A.M. Legal Alliance. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  37. ^ "Same-sex couples get partnership certificates on Valentine's Day in Bangkok". Pattaya Mail. 15 February 2023. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  38. ^ "สภา เริ่มถกร่างกม.สมรสเท่าเทียม - 'ภาคีสีรุ้ง' วอนโหวตรับเป็นของขวัญปีใหม่". bangkokbiznews (in Thai). 21 December 2023. Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  39. ^ "สมรสเท่าเทียม: สำรวจข้อเหมือน-ข้อต่าง ร่างกฎหมายสมรส LGBTQ+ รัฐบาล-ก้าวไกล-ภาคประชาชน" [Marriage equality: explore similarities and differences in LGBTQ+ marriage draft bills, Government-Move Forward-civil sector]. BBC News Thai (in Thai). 21 December 2023. Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  40. ^ "Thailand: Promptly Pass Same-Sex Marriage Bill; Groundbreaking Legislation Would Secure Equal Rights for LGBT People". Human Rights Watch. 27 March 2024. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  41. ^ "Thailand's latest push for same-sex marriage law". Archived from the original on 3 April 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  42. ^ Regan, Kocha Olarn, Helen (27 March 2024). "Thailand's lower house passes bill to legalize same-sex marriage". CNN. Archived from the original on 29 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  43. ^ "Thai same-sex marriage bill passes first reading". France 24. 1 April 2024. Archived from the original on 22 April 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  44. ^ "พระราชบัญญัติแก้ไขเพิ่มเติมประมวลกฎหมายแพ่งและพาณิชย์ (ฉบับที่ ๒๔) พ.ศ. ๒๕๖๗" (PDF). Royal Thai Government Gazette. 141 (58 A). 24 September 2024.
  45. ^ SAKSORNCHAI, JINTAMAS (18 June 2024). "Thailand's Senate overwhelmingly approves a landmark bill to legalize same-sex marriages". Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  46. ^ Rujivanarom, Pratch (30 November 2018). "New partnership bill 'does not give everybody equal rights'". The Nation. Archived from the original on 3 December 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  47. ^ "Thai junta's surrogacy bill to ban LGBT and singles from having their own children | Prachatai English". prachatai.com. 30 October 2014. Archived from the original on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  48. ^ "Royal Gazette: Gender Equality Act B.E. 2558 (in Thai)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 April 2015.
  49. ^ Jitcharoenkul, Prangthong (18 May 2016). "Learn about LGBTI, say activists". Bangkok Post. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  50. ^ "Thailand's equality laws come into effect". Global Gayz. 10 September 2015. Archived from the original on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  51. ^ "Thai junta expected to pass Gender Equality bill, strongly opposed by women rights groups". Prachatai English. 22 October 2014. Archived from the original on 23 January 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  52. ^ a b "Thailand: Transgender People Denied Equal Rights". Human Rights Watch. 16 December 2021. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  53. ^ a b c d UNDP (2 December 2019). "Tolerance but not inclusion". UNDP. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  54. ^ Gale, Jason (26 October 2015). "How Thailand became a global gender-change destination". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 18 July 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  55. ^ "Gender affirming hormone treatment in children and adolescents". Bumrungrad International Hospital. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  56. ^ "Gender Affirmation Surgery (Sex Reassignment Surgery)". Yanhee Hospital. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  57. ^ a b "Katoey face closed doors" (Opinion). Bangkok Post. 14 June 2013. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  58. ^ "Sex, drugs, stigma put Thai transsexuals at HIV risk". Bangkok Post. 23 July 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  59. ^ "Ladyboys lost in legal system". Bangkok Post. 3 February 2013. Archived from the original on 15 February 2013.
  60. ^ a b Thongnoi, Jitsiree. "Trapped beneath the transgender glass ceiling". Bangkok Post. Archived from the original on 7 June 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  61. ^ "PAO transgender defends wearing skirt". Bangkok Post. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  62. ^ a b c d "Gender labels upset Gene". Bangkok Post. 12 September 2014. p. 12.
  63. ^ Rik Glauert (29 July 2019). "Transgender activists in Thailand propose law to protect their rights". Gay Star News. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  64. ^ "นายกสมาคมสตรีข้ามเพศ ยื่นร่างกฎหมายรับรองสิทธิ-ใช้คำนำหน้าชื่อตามเพศสภาพ". Sanook.com (in Thai). 25 July 2019. Archived from the original on 30 July 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  65. ^ Benjakat, Abdullah (26 September 2020). "Army looks to fill elite female unit". Bangkok Post. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  66. ^ Legal Gender Recognition in Thailand: A Legal and Policy Review (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. 2018. p. 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 January 2024.
  67. ^ "Military Conscription and Transgenders in Thailand". Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies, Universitas Gajah Mada. 25 August 2019. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  68. ^ "Nightmare Looms for Transgender Women at Thailand's Army Draft". NBC News. 7 April 2017. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  69. ^ The source does not elaborate on whether "male partner" means a cisgender male or someone who was assigned male at birth regardless of their gender identity.
  70. ^ a b c Post reporters (13 October 2021). "Donations from LGBT 'too risky'". Bangkok Post. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  71. ^ "สภากาชาดปรับเกณฑ์ไม่รับเลือดกลุ่มเกย์-คนสำส่อน หวั่นเป็นแหล่งติดเชื้อ". Manager Online. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  72. ^ "เกย์ไพรด์ยอมถอย หลังรักเชียงใหม่"51 ขวาง อ้างเสียภาพเมืองวัฒนธรรม". Prachatai. 22 February 2009. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  73. ^ Yodhong, Chanan (28 February 2017). "ด้วยเหตุนี้ไทยแลนด์จึงไม่ใช่แดนสวรรค์ของ LGBT". The Matter. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  74. ^ Yodhong, Chanan (18 February 2020). ""ยินดียิ่งแล้ว แขกแก้วมาไพรด์" กับเหตุผลที่เราต้องไป Chiang Mai Pride 2020 กัน". The Matter. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  75. ^ มโนจันทร์เพ็ญ, ณรงค์กร (22 February 2019). "เชียงใหม่ไพรด์ 2019: 10 ปี เสาร์ซาวเอ็ดรำลึก พื้นที่แห่งความเท่าเทียมสำหรับทุกคน". The Standard. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  76. ^ Likhitpreechakul, Paisarn (14 June 2016). "We need to fight homophobia at home". Bangkok Post. Archived from the original on 14 June 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  77. ^ "Thailand: Gays and Lesbians Banned from Enrolling in Teacher Training Schools". Global LGBT Human Rights. 1 March 1997. Archived from the original on 28 July 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  78. ^ a b UNDP (2014). "Being LGBT In Asia: Thailand Country Report" (PDF). USAID (Report): 36. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 September 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  79. ^ a b c d YONGCHAROENCHAI, CHAIYOT (4 December 2016). "A cell of their own". Bangkok Post. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  80. ^ "The fight for love: LGBTQ rights policies in the 2019 general election". Prachatai. 12 March 2019. Archived from the original on 6 July 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  81. ^ Chandran, Rina (17 April 2019). "From movies to marriage, first Thai transgender MP wants change". Reuters. Thomson Reuters Foundation. Archived from the original on 18 April 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  82. ^ Yonpiam, Chairith (13 May 2019). "LGBT MPs given dress code leeway". Bangkok Post. Archived from the original on 15 May 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  83. ^ Kurlantzick, Joshua (2 August 2023). "Thailand's Pheu Thai Party Takes Control—But at a Long Term Cost". Council on Foreign Relations. Archived from the original on 7 January 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  84. ^ "Asian Gay and Lesbian News Archive by Utopia". www.utopia-asia.com. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  85. ^ Tatchell, Peter (October 1989). "Thailand: Gayness, Bar Boys and Sex Tourism". Gay Times. Archived from the original on 30 August 2009. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  86. ^ Ammon, Richard. "No Gay Pride in Bangkok 2010". Global Gayz. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  87. ^ Ng, Yi Shu (18 January 2017). "Bangkok will hold its first gay pride parade in 11 years". Mashable. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  88. ^ "Pride Month คืออะไร ทำความเข้าใจกันง่ายๆ". The Standard (in Thai). 24 June 2019. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  89. ^ Liljas, Per (5 March 2014). "Thailand's Intolerance of Its Own LGBT Community Will Surprise You". Time. Archived from the original on 14 November 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  90. ^ "Chiang Mai celebrates its first LGBT Pride in a decade". Prachatai. 25 February 2019. Archived from the original on 6 July 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  91. ^ "Chiang Mai Pride 2019". Chiang Mai City Life. 21 February 2019. Archived from the original on 3 August 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  92. ^ Collins, Andrew (10 March 2019). "Songkran Bangkok Gay Circuit Party 2019". Tripsavy. Archived from the original on 3 August 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  93. ^ Malinda-White, Kyle (9 April 2018). "Bangkok LGBT Songkran Guide 2018: Alternative Events and Who To Call In An Emergency". Medium Corporation. Archived from the original on 3 August 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  94. ^ "A Night Out at Asia's Biggest Gay Circuit Party: gCircuit during Songkran". Travels of Adam. Bangkok. 2 April 2018. Archived from the original on 3 August 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  95. ^ De Guzman, Chad (26 August 2022). "Thailand's Boys' Love Dramas Are Changing the Way Many People View Gay Romance". TIME. Archived from the original on 23 August 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  96. ^ Tangsathaporn, Poramet (17 February 2021). "Turning to porn to survive". Bangkok Post. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  97. ^ Ratcliffe, Rebecca (26 April 2023). "Thai conservatives vow to legalise sex toys in bid to shake up election". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  98. ^ "เข้าใจอินไซต์ชาวสีรุ้ง เจาะกำลังซื้อ LGBT ไม่ใช่ตลาด Niche อีกต่อไป". The Bangkok Insight (in Thai). 6 September 2018. Archived from the original on 30 July 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  99. ^ Villadiego, Laura (16 September 2018). "LAND OF LADY BOYS? THAILAND IS NOT THE LGBTI PARADISE IT APPEARS". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 16 May 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  100. ^ "3 in 5 Thais support same-sex civil partnerships: survey | Coconuts Bangkok". Coconuts. 18 February 2019. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  101. ^ "Nine in 10 Thais accept LGBTQ+ people as social tolerance rises: poll". Nation Thailand. 12 June 2022. Archived from the original on 14 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  102. ^ "Thailand edges closer to legalising same-sex marriage". Reuters. Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  103. ^ "Thailand edges closer to legalising same-sex marriage, Lifestyle - THE BUSINESS TIMES". www.businesstimes.com.sg. 21 December 2023. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  104. ^ Fox, Dale (21 December 2023). "Thailand approves same-sex marriage bills with overwhelming majority vote". Attitude. Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  105. ^ "Gender Change". Plastic Surgery Phuket. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  106. ^ "Thailand becomes first South-East Asian country to legalise same sex marriage". ABC News. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=LGBTQ_rights_in_Thailand&oldid=1253083249"