Hundreds of LGBTQ+ couples across Thailand were officially married in ceremonies large and small after a law recognizing marriage equality took effect on Thursday. Thailand is the first country in Southeast Asia and the third in Asia to recognize marriage equality.
“The rainbow flag is flying high over Thailand,” Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra posted to Facebook from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
The new law was passed by the country’s senate in June last year by a vote of 130 to 4. It was the signature legislation of former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, a vocal supporter of the LGBTQ+ community in Thailand.
A couple shows their marriage certificate as the Marriage Equality Act takes effect in Bangkok, Thailand, on January 23, 2025.Anusak Laowilas/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The new law amends the country’s civil code to ensure same-sex married couples receive full legal, medical, financial, inheritance, and adoption rights. The new law also amends the civil code to use gender-neutral rather than binary language.
The new law was greeted with celebrations and weddings on Thursday.
“This marriage equality law marks the beginning of Thai society’s greater awareness of gender diversity, and our embrace of everyone regardless of sexual orientation, race, or religion — our affirmation that everyone is entitled to equal rights and dignity,” Shinawatra said in a pre-recorded message to a mass wedding in Bangkok, CNN reports.
A couple registers their marriage during an event to mark the country's same-sex marriage law coming into effect in Bangkok, Thailand, on January 23, 2025.Anusak Laowilas/NurPhoto via Getty Images
“We’ve been waiting for this day for 18 years – the day everyone can recognize us openly, when we no longer need to be evasive or hide,” 59-Rungtiwa Thangkanopast, 59, told the BBC. Thangkanopast said she will marry her partner of 18 years later this year
Actor Sappanyoo Panatkool Apiwat married fellow actor Apiwatsayree in Bangkok.
“We can love, we love equally, legally,” Sappanyoo told the Associated Press.
BANGKOK, THAILAND - 2025/01/23: Thai LGBT couple, Thai actors, Apiwat Apiwatsayree (L) and Sappanyoo Panatkool (R) seen pose for a photo after registering their same-sex marriage at the Phra Nakhon district office in Bangkok. Thailand is the first Southeast Asia country and the third Asian nation after Nepal and Taiwan to legalize same-sex marriage. Peerapon Boonyakiat/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
“It’s the happiest day of my life,” Pisit Sirihiranchai told CNN after marrying his partner. “We could finally and completely do what we have been wanting to do for a long time.”
Thailand joins Nepal and Taiwan as the only countries in Asia recognizing marriage equality. Taiwan legalized marriage equality in 2019, and Nepal followed in 2023.
Keep scrolling to see photos of happy and joyful LGBTQ+ couples who legally married in Thailand on Thursday as the country became the first in Southeast Asia to recognize marriage equality.

Chayapa "June" Rattanakewil (R) and Thitapat "Pang" Chainarongwir pose for photos after registering their same-sex marriage in Bangkok on January 23, 2025. A high-profile gay couple married in Thailand on January 23 as the kingdom's same-sex marriage law went into effect, an AFP journalist saw, among the first of hundreds expected to do so.
CHANAKARN LAOSARAKHAM/AFP via Getty Images

Rungtiwa Thangkanopast (R) and Phanlavee Chingtang Sattam pose for pictures after registering their same-sex marriage in Bangkok on January 23, 2025. Scores of same-sex and transgender couples married in Thailand on January 23 as the kingdom's equal marriage law went into effect, with two high-profile gay actors among the first to do so.
MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP via Getty Images

A couple poses for pictures at a marriage during an event to mark the country's same-sex marriage law coming into effect in BangRak District, Bangkok, Thailand, on January 23, 2025.
Anusak Laowilas/NurPhoto via Getty Images

BANGKOK, THAILAND - 2025/01/23: Thai LGBT couple seen posing for a photo during the registration of their their same-sex marriage event at Siam Paragon The Shopping mall in Bangkok. Thailand is the first Southeast Asia country and the third Asian nation after Nepal and Taiwan to legalize same-sex marriage.
Peerapon Boonyakiat/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

A couple shows off their rings following their marriage during an event to mark the country's same-sex marriage law coming into effect in Bangkok, Thailand, on January 23, 2025.
Anusak Laowilas/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Permsap Sae-ung (L) and Puangpetch Hemkham pose for pictures after registering their same-sex marriage in Bangkok on January 23, 2025. Scores of same-sex and transgender couples married in Thailand on January 23 as the kingdom's equal marriage law went into effect, with two high-profile gay actors among the first to do so.
MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP via Getty Images

BANGKOK, THAILAND - 2025/01/23: Thai LGBT couple poses for a photo during the registration of their same-sex marriage event at Siam Paragon, The Shopping mall in Bangkok. Thailand is the first Southeast Asia country and the third Asian nation after Nepal and Taiwan to legalize same-sex marriage.
Peerapon Boonyakiat/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

BANGKOK, THAILAND - 2025/01/23: Thai LGBT couple seen posing for a photo during the registering their same-sex marriage event at Siam Paragon The Shopping mall in Bangkok. Thailand is the first Southeast Asia country and the third Asian nation after Nepal and Taiwan to legalize same-sex marriage.
Peerapon Boonyakiat/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Kevin Pethai Thanomket (L) and Maple pose for pictures after registering their same-sex marriage in Bangkok on January 23, 2025. Scores of same-sex and transgender couples married in Thailand on January 23 as the kingdom's equal marriage law went into effect, with two high-profile gay actors among the first to do so.
MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP via Getty Images

A couple shows their marriage certificate as the Marriage Equality Act takes effect in Bangkok, Thailand, on January 23, 2025.
Anusak Laowilas/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Ploynaplus Chirasukon (L) and Kwanporn Kongpetch pose for pictures after registering their same-sex marriage in Bangkok on January 23, 2025.
MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP via Getty Images

A couple poses for pictures at a marriage during an event to mark the country's same-sex marriage law coming into effect in BangRak District, Bangkok, Thailand, on January 23, 2025.
Anusak Laowilas/NurPhoto via Getty Images

BANGKOK, THAILAND - 2025/01/23: Thai LGBT couple, Thai actors Apiwat Apiwatsayree (L) and Sappanyoo Panatkool (R) seen pose for a photo after registering their same-sex marriage at the Phra Nakhon district office in Bangkok. Thailand is the first Southeast Asia country and the third Asian nation after Nepal and Taiwan to legalize same-sex marriage.
Peerapon Boonyakiat/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Phisit Sirihirunchai (L) and Chanathip Sirihirunchai pose for pictures after registering their same-sex marriage in Bangkok on January 23, 2025. Scores of same-sex and transgender couples married in Thailand on January 23 as the kingdom's equal marriage law went into effect, with two high-profile gay actors among the first to do so.
MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP via Getty Images