LGBT activists lobby for marriage rights

LGBT activists are pushing for an amendment to the Civil and Commercial Code in a bid to allow people to legally wed, regardless of gender.

LGBT coordinator Ekkawat Pimsawan yesterday submitted a proposal to Mukda Pongsombat, a Pheu Thai MP for Khon Kaen and chairwoman of the House committee on children, youths, women, the elderly, the disabled and ethnic groups, calling for a change to the Civil and Commercial Code to allow same-sex couples to marry.

Many transgender couples live together like married heterosexual couples, the proposal says, but since there is no legal recognition of same-sex marriage, their rights are not protected. The proposal recommended the committee set up a working group to study legal amendments.

Ms Mukda said the issue was new in Thai society. The House committee respected all people, she said, and is ready to look into laws relating to all groups, particularly those affecting equal rights regardless of sexual preference.

After submitting the proposal, two men in the LGBT delegation kissed, a symbolic act that some said was inappropriate in the hallowed halls of parliament.

On Dec 25 last year, the cabinet agreed in principle to a bill on civil partnership for same-sex couples.

The Council of State — the government’s legal adviser — has asked the Justice Ministry to hold public forums on the bill’s contentious points. For example, those wishing to register a civil partnership must be at least 17 years old and obtain their parents’ consent. The bill also omits rights to state welfare, though same-sex couples can adopt children under existing laws.