NAKHON RATCHASIMA — A same-sex marriage became the talk of the town in Nakhon Ratchasima on Sunday.
Ms Yupa (left) and Ms Piyanat tie the knot in a Thai traditional ceremony in Nakhon Ratchasima on Sunday. (Photos by Prasit Tangprasert)
One of the partners was Piyanat Sae Kim, 25, a daughter of a construction-material shopowner, while the other was Yupa Chanmuenwai, 31.
Ms Yupa led a khanmark (tray of gifts for the bride's family) procession to her partner's house early on Sunday. She gave Ms Piyanat's family a symbolic 200,000 baht in cash and four baht weight of gold as dowry.
Both saw each other for two years before tying the knot. Ms Piyanat works at her family's shop while her partner works at a bank.
They lived close to each other and Ms Yupa reportedly fell in love with her partner for several years before asking her out.
Ms Yupa has since helped Ms Piyanat at the shop every evening. Ms Yupa eventually won the hearts of her partner's parents, who are impressed with her hard work, dependability and consistency.
Thailand does not have a same-sex marriage law. The Democrat and Pheu Thai parties set up a joint panel to draft the bill last year. It remains unclear what happened to the bill after the May 22 coup.
Several civic groups have supported the bill and some even have their own versions submitted to Parliament.
Seminars and hearings have also been held and the bill has received strong support from the Justice Ministry.
Under the bill, two Thai citizens aged 20 or more can register their marriage provided they are not related or already married to someone else.
A couple will then enjoy every right as a different-sex couple do, including the right to inherit and to tax privileges.
