Thailand is examining a bill to legalize civil unions for same-sex couples. The decision will be made before February 2019. The kingdom would then become the first Asian country to legalize this civil partnership.

This is not the first time the Thai government has proposed to legalize same-sex marriage. The last attempt was abruptly halted by the 2014 military coup. This time, it should make a definitive decision before next February to determine whether same-sex couples will obtain the same civil rights as heterosexual couples. These rights include, among others, the right to end the partnership, the right to take their spouse's family name, and property rights. The bill has not yet been widely detailed, but same-sex couples will be able to become life partners.

Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage Worldwide

The LGBT community in Thailand represents approximately 8% of the population, or 6 million people. The country holds an advanced stance on an issue at the heart of the last continent on the planet where no state has yet legalized same-sex marriage. The gay community of Taiwan, a country that also seemed advanced in Asia, recently suffered a bitter defeat in the fight for recognition of its rights. The Taiwanese people rejected same-sex marriage in a referendum (72% against) on Saturday, November 24th, even though the Constitutional Court had taken a favorable position on this union in May. This result is merely consultative but marks a fracture between society and the authorities. Homosexuality is furthermore considered a crime in 72 countries worldwide. LGBT community members face the death penalty in 13 additional countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Brunei, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Qatar, Syria, Yemen, Mauritania, Nigeria, Sudan, and Somalia in the Islamic emirates ruled by Al-Shabbaab. The Netherlands was the first country in history to legalize same-sex marriage, on April 3, 2001.