The civil partnership bill for same-sex couples is in the final stages of drafting, which will be completed by September, according to the Justice Ministry.
The minister has put the bill on a fast track, Pitikarn Sitthidej, director general of the Rights and Liberties Protection Department, which is in charge of drafting the bill, said on Friday.
After the drafting is completed by the September deadline, the bill will go to Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister ACM Prajin Janthong to consider putting it for cabinet consideration. If approved, it will be sent to the National Legislative Assembly to ne enacted.
The department will hold the last meeting on the bill on Wednesday.
Some changes may be made to the current 63-section draft, many of which came from hearings on experiences in countries that already have such a law, including Mexico, South Africa, Canada, Australia and England, Ms Pitikarn said.
“Many of Thailand’s 65 million-strong population are LGBT and must be entitled to the same rights and freedom as heterosexual people currently enjoy,” she said.
The justice minister gave four guidelines for the last meeting.
First, he wants to see the department propagate the knowledge about the bill to create an understanding as it involves a sensitive issue in Thai society.
Second, a study must be conducted on how Thailand will endorse the status of couples who entered a civil partnership in another country and what rights they will be entitled to when they come to Thailand.
Third, the bill should start from registering as civil partners and the registering agency should be clearly spelled out -- whether it will be the Interior Ministry or the Justice Ministry.
Fourth, the law will be upgraded to legalise same-sex marriages at a later date.
“Ever since we started pushing the bill, the feedback has been very positive. We receive a lot of information and ideas and 60,000 signed up to support it.
‘We believe the number of people backing the bill is much greater as many are silent supporters,” she said.