Hundreds wed as Thai same-sex marriage law comes into force

BANGKOK: Scores of same-sex and transgender couples married in Thailand on Thursday as the kingdom's equal marriage law went into effect, with two high-profile gay actors among the first to do so.

In matching beige suits, Apiwat "Porsch" Apiwatsayree, 49 - who was in tears - and Sappanyoo "Arm" Panatkool, 38, were handed their pink-bordered marriage certificates at a registry office in Bangkok. "We fought for it for decades and today is a remarkable day that love is love," said Arm.

The milestone sees Thailand become by far the biggest nation in Asia to recognise equal marriage, after Taiwan and Nepal.


"Today, the rainbow flag is proudly flying over Thailand," Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra posted on X.

The new marriage law uses gender-neutral terms in place of "men", "women", "husbands" and "wives", also clearing the way for transgender people to wed, and grants adoption and inheritance rights to all married couples.