Which countries have “equal marriage”? Thailand is the 37th country in the world.

Revealing the list of countries with equal marriage laws, while Thailand is the first country in ASEAN, the second in Asia, and the 37th country in the world.

March 27, 2024 is an important day in Thai history when the House of Representatives finally approved the bill on equal marriage for LGBT groups after decades of demand and struggle.

This movement to improve human rights in our country makes Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia (ASEAN), the second in Asia, and the 37th in the world to have equal marriage laws.

Countries that have passed and implemented such laws are as follows:

1. Netherlands
   The first country in the world to have equal marriage laws, with the parliament passing the bill since December 2000, more than 20 years ago, and it came into effect in April of the following year. It is considered a pioneer in establishing equal marriage laws.
2. Belgium
   The neighboring country of the Netherlands followed closely in 2003 after the parliament voted overwhelmingly to approve the bill and it came into effect that same year. By giving equal rights to heterosexual couples in all respects.
3. Spain
   The push for a marriage equality law began in 2004, and the following year, the country's parliament passed the law in late June 2005, and it officially came into effect in early July.
4. Canada
   In fact, some regions and provinces of Canada have already passed marriage equality laws since 2023, in the form of a petition to the court to rule on the legalization of LGBTQ marriages, and it was accepted as a national law that came into effect in 2005.
5. South Africa
   The South African parliament passed a marriage equality law in late November 2006, a move that came after the Constitutional Court ruled that the previous marriage law was unconstitutional. This made it the first and only country in Africa to have such a law.
6. Norway
   Marriage equality became legal in Norway on January 1, 2009, after being proposed by lawmakers in June the previous year.
7. Sweden
   The country has allowed same-sex couples to live together openly since 1995, but only proposed a bill on same-sex marriage in April 2009, which came into effect on May 1 of the same year.
8. Portugal
   The Portuguese parliament passed a bill on same-sex marriage in January 2010, before it was reviewed by the Constitutional Court and the Office of the President in the middle of the year, before finally coming into effect in June of the same year.
9. Iceland
   The Icelandic parliament unanimously approved a bill on same-sex marriage in June 2010, under the government of Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardotti. First lesbian country
10. Argentina
    Enacted same-sex marriage law in July 2010, the first country in South America
11. Denmark
    The first country in the world to recognize same-sex unions since 1989. In 2012, the parliament passed the Marriage Equality Act, which was endorsed by Queen Marguerite II
12. Uruguay
    The second country in South America to pass a Marriage Equality Act, another country that previously recognized same-sex unions
13. New Zealand
    The New Zealand parliament passed a Marriage Equality Act and enforced it in 2013, the first country in the Pacific region
14. France
    Despite strong opposition from conservatives in the country, France was finally able to pass and legalize same-sex marriage in 2013
15. Brazil
    The National Council of Justice voted to allow same-sex couples to marry legally
16. United Kingdom
    Marriage equality has been in effect in England, Wales and Scotland since 2014, while Northern Ireland only went into effect in 2020.
17. Luxembourg
    Marriage equality has been legal since January 1, 2015, supported by the country’s outgoing Prime Minister Xavier Bettel.
18. USA
    Many states have legalized same-sex marriage since 2003, but it only went into effect nationwide in June 2015 after the country’s Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples should have the right to marry under the constitution, and that all states must recognize them.
19. Ireland
    Marriage equality was passed in a referendum in late May 2015, and came into effect two months later, becoming the first country to pass the law by direct popular vote.
20. Colombia
    The Constitutional Court ruled that same-sex marriages are constitutional. And it was legalized in April 2016.
21. Finland
    The Finnish parliament passed the Marriage Equality Act in November 2014. The following year, President Sauli Niinisto signed the bill into law, but it didn't come into effect in March 2017.
22. Malta
    The parliament passed the bill almost unanimously and legalized Marriage Equality in 2017.
23. Germany
    The parliament voted to pass the bill in June 2017, and it received strong public support. It came into effect in October of the same year.
24. Australia
    A postal poll found that a majority of Australians supported the law, and the parliament voted to legalize same-sex marriage. It came into effect on December 9, 2017.
25. Taiwan
    In 2017, Taiwan's Constitutional Court ruled that the marriage law, which only recognizes a man and a woman, was unconstitutional. Taiwan's lawmakers approved the Marriage Equality Act in 2019, making it the first country in Asia to do so.
26. Austria
    Austria's Supreme Court ruled in 2017 that a ban on couples marrying on the basis of sexual orientation was discriminatory. Marriage law officially came into effect on January 1, 2019.
27. Ecuador
    A gay couple sued a government agency that prevented them from registering, leading to a Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage in July 2019.
28. Costa Rica
    Following a human rights court push in 2018, Costa Rica’s Supreme Court ruled that the ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. On May 26, 2020, same-sex marriage became legal in Costa Rica, the first country in Central America to do so.
29. Switzerland
    A public vote in 2021 on whether to approve marriage and adoption laws was held. A vote of 64.1% of the public voted in favor, leading to the law being passed and taking effect on July 1, 2022.
30. Chile
    Chile’s president signed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in 2021, which took effect in March 2022.
31. Slovenia
    On July 9, 2022, Slovenia’s Constitutional Court ruled 6-3 that the ban on same-sex marriage and adoption was unconstitutional. The country’s parliament passed amendments to the Marriage Code in October.
32. Mexico
    Mexico’s first legalized same-sex marriage was in Mexico City. The capital of the country since 2009. The Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that the ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. Since then, Mexican states have gradually legalized same-sex marriage, and by October 2022, all Mexican states have implemented marriage equality laws.
33. Cuba
    Marriage equality was passed after a national referendum in Cuba on September 25, 2022. A majority of Cubans voted to allow same-sex couples to marry and adopt children.
34. Andorra
    Andorra's parliament voted on July 21, 2022, to expand its civil marriage law to include same-sex couples. It will come into effect in early 2023.
35. Estonia
    Estonia's parliament legalized same-sex marriage on June 20, 2023, becoming the first ex-Soviet nation and the first Baltic country to do so. It will come into effect on January 1, 2024.
36. Greece
    In February 2024, the Greek parliament approved a law on same-sex marriage, which will allow same-sex couples to adopt children. It has not yet come into effect. Waiting for the official announcement in the Royal Gazette
37. Thailand
    The parliament has just voted 400 in favor, 10 against, 2 abstentions and 3 abstentions, making the Marriage Equality Act pass the draft. After this, it will be prepared for consideration by the Senate (S.W.) and if the draft passes, it will be submitted for royal endorsement to be enacted as law. This makes Thailand the first country in ASEAN to have this draft law, and the second in Asia after Taiwan.

As for the case of "Nepal", which was previously reported to have the first same-sex couple to register their marriage, it was because the Supreme Court of Nepal issued a "temporary protection order" allowing same-sex couples to register their marriage, but the Marriage Equality Act has not yet been officially recognized.

In 2024, it is expected that some countries that may have movement on Marriage Equality laws will include the Czech Republic, India, Japan, Nepal and the Philippines.

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