Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will host a reception at Government House tomorrow to celebrate the marriage equality bill as it nears its final stages of approval. This event highlights a significant milestone for Thailand as the bill progresses towards becoming law.
The guest list includes VIPs, cabinet members, and foreign envoys, according to Deputy Government Spokeswoman Radklao Inthawong Suwankiri. Additionally, members of the Bangkok Pride task force and journalists from Thai and international media outlets are expected to attend.
The reception, set to begin at 5 pm, will be held on the lawn in front of the Thai Ku Fah building. The celebration underscores the marriage equality bill’s advancement, which has recently been vetted by the Senate scrutiny committee and is now ready for Senate deliberation on Tuesday.
If the Senate approves the bill, it will be forwarded to the cabinet, the prime minister, and subsequently to His Majesty the King for endorsement. The law is expected to come into effect within 120 days of being published in the Royal Gazette, likely towards the end of this year.
Ms. Radklao emphasized that the reception marks the beginning of celebrations for this landmark legislation, which has been a long time in the making. A parade will commence at 6 pm on Tuesday, starting from the lawn and proceeding to the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre in Pathumwan district. The festivities will include shows, speeches, concerts, and gatherings of gender-diverse couples.
“I’d like to invite everyone to celebrate the beginning of a landmark event and show the world that Thailand is becoming the third country in Asia — after Taiwan and Nepal — and the first country in Southeast Asia to pass a same-sex marriage law,” Ms. Radklao said.
