Twelve years ago, the Thai couple headed to the wedding registry to take part in a mass wedding ceremony on Valentine’s Day in Bangkok. Rungtiwa Thangkanopast wore a long white dress and her partner, Phanlavee Chongtangsattam, a black tuxedo.
The employees welcomed them. But when they arrived at the registrar’s office and presented their identity cards, which show that each is female, they were turned away. Marriage between two women, they were told, was not permitted.
On Thursday, the couple finally got the chance to tie the knot under Thailand’s new law allowing same-sex marriage. They joined hundreds of others for a mass wedding ceremony in Bangkok as the law came into effect.
“I am happy and excited because we have been waiting for this day for a long time,” said Ms. Rungtiwa. “For 20 years, we loved each other and had to hide from society’s disapproval. But now we can stand proud.”
The mass wedding ceremony began in the morning at Paragon Hall, an event and conference center in one of Bangkok’s largest shopping malls, Siam Paragon. It was hosted by a rights group, Naruemit Pride, whose name roughly translates as creating pride.
Dozens of dignitaries and dozens of reporters were on hand as the first weddings began in a large gray hall, with pink arches adorned with flowers as a backdrop for the newlyweds’ photos. The couples were married one at a time by officials who reviewed their documents and officially registered them as legally married.
“Today we feel safe, secure and happy,” said Ploynaplus Chirasukon, 33, who married her partner, Kwanporn Kongpetch, 32, in the event’s first wedding. “We’re happy to have played a role in the Marriage Equality Act getting to this point.”
Other weddings were planned across the country, and organizers say they expect more than 1,000 same-sex couples to tie the knot on the first day.
With the new law, Thailand becomes the first country in Southeast Asia – and only the third in Asia after Taiwan and Nepal – to allow people of the same sex to marry each other.
Thailand is widely regarded by outsiders as one of the most open places in the world for LGBTQ people, but it took more than a decade of campaigning to legalize same-sex marriage. Many citizens of this traditional, predominantly Buddhist country remain conservative, especially the elderly. Even so, she becomes increasingly tolerant of social issues, particularly in contrast to her neighbors.
In 2022, Thailand became the first country in the region to legalize the sale and recreational use of marijuana. The government gave 1 million marijuana plants to households as the law went into effect. Since then, hundreds of weed shops have sprouted up in urban areas. And last year, Parliament passed the marriage legislation, which became law with the assent of the king.
To celebrate the law, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra presided over a colorful photo shoot last week with dozens of couples planning to marry.
“Jan. The 23rd of 2025 will be the day we all record history together, that the rainbow flag has been graciously planted in Thailand,” she posted on her Instagram account. “Everyone’s love is legally recognized with honor and dignity.”
Thailand, whose economy is heavily dependent on tourism, plans to start promoting itself internationally as an LGBTQ tourist destination.
Among those planning to marry at the Bangkok ceremony were Amnad Sanghong, a manager at an import-export company, and Aphinun Manasang, a graphic designer, who have been together for 14 years.
Like many other couples, Mr. Amnad, 42, and Mr Aphinun, 37, are motivated to marry to gain full legal rights, including the right to make healthcare decisions for a loved one, and to receive the benefit of Thai adoption and adoption and inheritance laws .
They came to Bangkok to participate in the first day celebration and will hold another wedding ceremony with family and friends when they return home to Prachinburi province, about 70 miles northeast of the city.
“Our families are very excited because they never expected that we would be able to get married,” said Mr. Aphinun.
In 2013, when Ms Rungtiwa, 59, and Ms Phanlavee, 44, walked away from the wedding ceremony, few Thais supported same-sex marriage.
“No one had the courage at that time to come out and claim their rights,” said Ms. Phanlavee. “The suits were just a symbol because we knew we wouldn’t be allowed to register. It was a symbol to say that we are life partners.”
Their quest to marry began with a family health scare that made them realize they did not have the legal right to authorize the care of those they considered immediate family.
They then started trying to secure their rights through various legal maneuvers.
Their daughter, Chomchanok Thangkanopast, was born 24 years ago to Ms Rungtiwa and her then husband, who has since died. When they got married they knew they were gay. They both wanted a baby.
A few years later, Mrs. Rungtiwa met Mrs. Phanlavee and fell in love. They began living together, and although both considered Ms Chomchanok their daughter, Ms Phanlavee had no parental rights. The couple came up with a roundabout solution: Ms Rungtiwa’s mother adopted Ms Phanlavee, making her legally her partner’s sister and aunt to their daughter.
When Ms. Chomchanok turned 20, Ms. Phanlavee adopted her without legal obstacles.
“I’m still the aunt, but I’m also the mom,” said Ms. Phanlavee.
Now, with the chance to get married, their lives will be much simpler, at least in legal terms.
“Although society will not accept us,” said Ms. Rungtiwa, “at least the law will accept us”.
