Thailand joins Nepal and Taiwan as the only Asian nations to legalise LGBT unions, amid repressive regimes and religious traditions

Thailand on Thursday became the first country in Southeast Asia to hold legal same-sex weddings, with LGBT groups aiming to mark the occasion with more than 1,000 marriage registrations in a single day.

Scores of same-sex and transgender couples married in Thailand as the kingdom's equal marriage law went into effect.

But in the 2019 election which returned Thailand to civilian rule, a new, youthful reformist party called Future Forward, which fully supported equal marriage, did unexpectedly well. They won the third-largest share of seats, revealing a growing hunger for change in Thailand.

Tommy Walker speaks to LGBT+ couples in Bangkok – many who have been together for decades – as the country’s historic marriage equality law comes into force

Campaigners are worried President Trump’s order on diversity and LGBT rights could threaten their work in other countries, but conservative groups welcome it.

In a significant boost to recognizing transgender people’s rights, the Thai government announced this week that it will invest 145 million baht (US$4.3 million) in providing hormone therapy to transgender people.

Thailand Legalises Same-sex Marriage, Couples Line Up for Vows | Vantage with Palki Sharma | N18G Thailand has become the first country in Southeast Asia to hold legal same-sex weddings, with LGBT groups aiming to mark the occasion with more than 1,

In 2024, Thailand legalized same-sex marriage, providing more equality for its LGBTQ residents and visitors. On January 23, 2025, the law went into effect and the country celebrated with a mass wedding for same-sex partners, with NBC News reporting that almost 200 couples took part.

On Friday, friends and family of the youngest of the 13 original Freedom Riders gathered at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church to honor his life and work.

China has prohibited imports of sheep, goat, poultry and even-toed ungulates from African, Asian and European countries due to outbreaks of livestock diseases such as sheep pox, goat pox and foot-and-mouth-disease.

Uttarakhand became the first Indian state to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) on Monday. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the UCC alongside an official online portal, marking a significant milestone in India’s legal landscape. Speaking ...