On the first day LGBTQ+ couples could legally marry in Thailand, many of them wed in Chiang Mai on Jan. 23. Thailand is the first country in Southeast Asia, but only the third in Asia, to legalize same-sex marriage.
“We ran a campaign for promoting the bill every single year for the past few years here at the City Hall on Valentine’s Day. Today is the first day that we can marry it legally,” said Arty Sangsuwan, an organizer with Chiang Mai Pride.
“We have a plan to retire in the beautiful city of Chiang Mai in Thailand. So that’s why we [took] the first opportunity to be the first married couple in Chiang Mai. We first met 26 years ago in Bangkok. In fact, we, we got married in the U.K., just about three months ago. So, we’re very excited to obtain the recognition of that marriage here in Thailand on this historic day,” said Lan Morton and Danai Wachiranupap, an LGBTQ+couple tying the knot on Thursday.
The Marriage Equality Act was published in Thailand’s Royal Gazette on Sept. 24, making it the third country or territory in Asia – after Taiwan and Nepal – to recognize same sex marriage. The new law will allow any two individuals who are 18 years or older to register their marriage and receive the same benefits and rights as heterosexual couples.







