Thai Parliament votes to legalize gay marriage by a landslide

[lfromnj]

Thai advocates for LGBTQ rights hailed a major step forward Wednesday as the parliament passed a same-sex marriage bill in a landslide, paving the way for the nation to become the first in Southeast Asia to recognise marriage equality.
While Thailand enjoys a welcoming reputation for the international LGBTQ community, Thai activists have struggled for decades against conservative attitudes and values.

The bill sailed through on 399 to 10 votes in the lower house, although it must still be approved by the Senate and endorsed by the king before becoming the law of the land.

https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/thailand-parliament-passes-bill-to-legalise-same-sex-marriage-5320703

My guess is that its also somewhat of a compromise where the military/conservatives gives some concessions to the progressives. Still has to go through the senate/monarchy though although I think the monarchy rarely vetoes stuff.

Rumors are all but 1 of  the no votes are from the Muslim Malay party.

[TDAS04]

Great news, surprised and impressed by how little opposition there apparently is in Thailand, at least in Parliament.

But I’m also glad SnowLabrador isn’t here to use this pleasant news story to push his ridiculously dour narrative of America…

[CumbrianLefty]

Yes, it is striking how near-unanimous the vote was - this hasn't actually been the case in most places that have passed SSM into law.

[Aurelius2]

Based

[mileslunn]

Yes, it is striking how near-unanimous the vote was - this hasn't actually been the case in most places that have passed SSM into law.

There have been a few but not many.  Iceland was unanimous while Luxembourg and Malta were near unanimous.  But it is true of larger countries, all were much more divided and not heavily unanimous like Thailand was.

[Badger]

Makes me wonder why it would have taken as long as it did? That is, if these votes occurred in various countries by overwhelming or near unanimous margins, then why couldn't a simple majority have been cobbled together much sooner?

[mileslunn]

Makes me wonder why it would have taken as long as it did? That is, if these votes occurred in various countries by overwhelming or near unanimous margins, then why couldn't a simple majority have been cobbled together much sooner?

It seems with right wing parties, it is quite divisive if done while in power like UK in 2014 or Greece in 2024 while once out of office thinking more about future than present and know which way tide is going.  Most those with near unanimous support had right wing governments who lost shortly before it passed

[Tintrlvr]

Makes me wonder why it would have taken as long as it did? That is, if these votes occurred in various countries by overwhelming or near unanimous margins, then why couldn't a simple majority have been cobbled together much sooner?

In the case of Thailand, it's because the liberal parties won a landslide election victory a year ago while the conservative royalists/military parties held power before then, and in the intervening year, there were higher priorities on the government's agenda than same-sex marriage.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

OOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH  YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!