Thailand is regarded as one of the most tolerant countries in Asia in regards to homosexuality. Bangkok’s main business district is dotted with gay massage parlours and same-sex sexual activities are legal. Thailand also has lots of transgender celebrities and politicians.
But same-sex marriage is banned.
50-year-old Natee Theerarojanapong is the President of Thailand’s Political Gay Group.
He has been walking on the streets for hours, collecting signatures - searching for people that support the same-sex marriage bill.
“We just want the normal life as other men and women. We want to have the right to love and marry like other people do. We are also human being. We want to live a good life, and in equality.”
And within two months, he has collected more than 1,000 signatures.
This act was driven by the fact that last year, Natee and his partner for 19 years were denied the right to marry.
“We asked to register our union. We want to register our marriage and make our union legal,” he recalls. “But they denied my proposal. So I took the case to the National Human Rights Commission.”
Natee then filed a petition to the Commision, arguing that his case is one of discrimination based on sexual orientation. It was the first petition for marriage registration between same-sex couples.
And this has pushed the House of Representatives to draft a bill on same-sex marriage. It was finished in January and is now waiting for the hearing session.
Wirath Kalayasiri from the opposition Democratic Party will present the bill to the House.
“Ask me if I want to do this? I do. Ask if I have any concerns? I do. It’s very risky for me to support the bill. There is a lot of teasing from my colleagues saying that “Wirath, are you becoming homosexual?” I know they were only joking, but it is still insulting.”
If the bill is passed, it will be the first of its kind in Thailand, giving same-sex couples the same marriage rights as other couples.
But getting the bill passed will be tough given Thailand’s traditionally conservative society.
Last year, a national government survey showed that nearly 60 percent of Thais believe that same-sex marriage is unnatural and sets a bad example for children.
“I think Thai society recognise that there are lesbian, gay and transgender people, but we see these people as defected,” says Anchana Suvarnnanond is the founder of Anjaree group, Thai’s first lesbian group.
“So they’re there, they’re OK, they’re also human, but it’s too bad that they’re like that. We don’t think that in terms of equality, that all human being should be treated equally.”
Lawyer Natcha Singha says Thai current law doesn’t recognise same-sex marriages, civil unions or domestic partnerships. She believes it’s time to update the country’s marriage law.
“Thai law doesn’t specifically state that same-sex marriage is illegal. In fact, homosexuality itself has never been illegal in Thailand. They simply concludes that marriage can only be approved when both the man and woman consent. So why not amend the law? It’s been been in place since 1945.”
Natee ends his campaign today with a song – he will continue pushing for equality.
