Couples wed in a riot of colour as Thailand legalises same-sex marriage

Summary

More than a thousand LGBTQ couples across Thailand will marry as same-sex unions become legal
One of today's biggest events is happening at a luxury mall in central Bangkok, where more than 100 couples are getting married
The law kicked into effect on Thursday after a sustained campaign that one activist described as a "long fight full of tears"
LGBTQ couples now have the same rights as other couples to manage assets, inherit, adopt and take decisions about their partner's medical treatment
But activists say they are fighting for more changes because many laws are still not gender-neutral
Thailand has long been seen as a haven for LGBTQ people - but it remains an outlier in Asia

This video can not be played

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

The BBC reports from Bangkok mall where couples say 'I do'

Live Reporting

Edited by Aparna Alluri in Bangkok and Yvette Tan in Singapore with reporting from Jonathan Head, Thanyarat Doksone, Lulu Luo, Panisa Aemocha, Napasin Samkaewcham and Paweena Ninbut in Bangkok and Kelly Ng in Singapore

Why are they getting married at a mall?published at 02:49 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January
Thanyarat Doksone
in Bangkok
Image source, Getty Images
As we've been reporting, dozens of couples are now getting married at the luxury Siam Paragon mall.
It may seem like a strange choice of place, but its central location means it's easy for people to get to.
It also provides a large, air conditioned exhibition hall that can host big events like concerts and expos.
Also, Thailand is a hot place and often humid. So Thais are used to spending a lot of their time in the malls on the weekends and holidays.
Besides Siam Paragon, hundreds of couples are also expected to flock to district offices across Bangkok to get their marriage certificates.
Joy as more couples say 'I do'published at 02:34 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January
The joy is palpable as couples wait in line to have their unions registered. Those who have just registered their marriges can be seen grinning and are posing for pictures to mark this occasion.
Image source, BBC/Lulu Luo
Image source, BBC/Vandna Vijay
Image source, BBC/Lulu Luo
'This is just perfect for us'published at 02:19 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January
Thanyarat Doksone
in Bangkok
Image source, BBC/Vandana Vijay
Image caption,
Pisit Sirihirunchai (left) and Chanatip Sirihirunchai hold up their marriage certificates
"This is the day we’ve been waiting for," says police officer Pisit Sirihirunchai, who just registered his marriage with his long-term partner Chanatip Sirihirunchai.
"We think this is just perfect for us: The law that protects our rights.
"That’s enough for us," Chanatip says.
The couple, who has been together for seven years, earlier told the BBC they had gone to a Buddhist monk to give them an auspicious new last name they can share.
They had also gotten local officials to issue a letter of intent, which they both signed, pledging to get married.
'We've been waiting for 17 years'published at 02:01 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January
Panisa Aemocha
BBC Thai in Bangkok
Image caption,
Ploynaplus (left) and Kwanporn (right) say today has been a long time coming
Ploynaplus Chirasukon and Kwanporn Kongpetch - the first couple to be married today - say they have been "waiting for 17 years" for this day,
"We've faced many hurdles as we've been together since we were very young," says Ploy. "[Back then] being an LGBTQ couple was considered alien, but with the help of the press, [today] people realise we [are] just as human as everyone."
"We can be who we are 100% without having to hide it. Or be in a closet," chimed in Kwan.
Hundreds of same-sex couples to tie the knot todaypublished at 01:53 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January
Image source, Getty Images
Some 311 same-sex couples in the capital Bangkok will register their unions today, with a handful already underway at an event organised by Bangkok Pride at the luxury Siam Paragon shopping mall.
Other couples in Bangkok will be making their way to any one of the city's 50 district offices - though some are more popular than others because of their auspicious names. Bang Rak for example, means the District of Love, and Bang Sue, the District of Honesty.
The less popular ones are Bang Chak or the District of Goodbyes; and Bang Phlat, or the District of Separation.
Across the country, at least 1,448 same-sex couples are expected to be wed by the end of today, LGBTQ activists say, as a tribute to the Change 1448 campaign for marriage equality - 1448 is the clause in the Thai Civil Code covering the definition of marriage.
Why Thailand became a haven for LGBTQ couplespublished at 01:38 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January
Jonathan Head
BBC South East Asia Correspondent
Image source, Getty Images
The same question has been heard throughout the long campaign to get the equal marriage law passed: Why Thailand? Why nowhere else, aside from Taiwan and Nepal, in Asia?
Thailand is famously accepting of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people. They have long been visible in all walks of life. Thai people are easy-going about pretty much everything. Surely, then, equal marriage was inevitable.
"Mai pen rai" – no big deal – is a national catch-phrase. Buddhist beliefs, followed by more than 90% of Thais, don't forbid LGBT lifestyles.
Except it wasn't - LGBTQ couples tell us they fought a long fight to be recognised.
"We did not fight, we negotiated," says Tinnaphop Sinsomboonthong, who self-identifies as queer. "We knew we had to talk to Thai society, and little by little, we shifted attitudes."
Read more here on how Thailand became a haven for LGBT couples
And you are married!published at 01:24 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January
The first few couples have got their marriage certificates - a piece of paper that the Thai LGBTQ community says they have had to fight long and hard for.
Image source, Vandna Vijay/ BBC
Image caption,
The first couple to register their union at Siam Paragon mall
Image source, Lulu Luo/ BBC
Image source, Lulu Luo/ BBC
The wait beginspublished at 01:17 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January
Image source, Thanyarat Doksone/ BBC
Couples have been arriving at the Siam Paragon mall in central Bangkok, where about 180 of them are set to register their marriages.
Some have already held ceremonies or celebrations, while others will have them later. But today is still significant because it offers their unions the legal recognition that the LGBTQ+ community has demanded for years.
It means they now have the same rights as heterosexual couples to manage assets, adopt children and make decisions about their spouse's medical treatment.
A momentous day for Thailandpublished at 01:16 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January
Aparna Alluri
in Bangkok
Welcome to our live coverage as same-sex marriage becomes legal in Thailand.
It's a huge day for the country, which is one of very few places in Asia to recognise marriage equality.
It's just past 0800 in Bangkok, where LGBTQ+ couples have been queuing at district offices and other venues to get married.
Nearly 180 of them will register their unions at an upmarket shopping mall in the heart of the capital, in an event organised by the local government.
Among them are police officer Pisit "Kew" Sirihirunchai and his partner Chanatip "Jane" Sirihirunchai, who spoke to the BBC earlier about how they have been ready for this moment for years.
Image source, Thanyarat Doksone/ BBC
Image caption,
Pisit with his partner Chanatip at the Siam Paragon mall, where they are waiting to register their marriage
The same thing will be happening across the country, with more than 1,000 couples expected to wed today.
Stay with us as we bring you the latest updates.