Bangkok’s Bang Khunthian district will register same-sex marriages on Valentine’s Day, the first time in Thailand, but the certificates will not be legally binding.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will provide special activities for marriage registration by all couples at two venues on Feb 14, in Bang Rak and Bang Khunthian districts, under Covid-19 prevention controls.
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Other districts will also provide marriage registration services from 8am to 4pm, but without special activities for Valentine's Day.
Bang Khunthian district office has arranged activities under the theme “The Candle of Love’’ at The Bright shopping mall on Rama II Road. Couples can register to participate in advance, or just walk-in. There is no limit on the number of couples.
A special highlight is that Bang Khunthian district office will allow LGPT couples to register their marriage. The office will present them with certificates recognising their relationship, similiar to marriage certificates.
“Certificates will be issued to same-sex couples, but they will not be legally binding,’’ district director Pongjakarin Tavornpong said.
The BMA has promoted equal rights for all groups in society. Draft legislation on equality has yet to be submitted to the parliament.
"In the future, we will have laws of equality like other countries," the Bang Khunthian district chief.
BMA spokesman Pongsakorn Kwanmuang said marriage registration for LGBT couples was part of a push for the proposed Civil Partnership Bill to be passed into law, so that lovers of all genders could legally register their marriage.
At Bang Rak district office, activities in the theme “Lover New Normal’’ will be held on Valentine’s Day. A total of 399 couples have already registered online for the event.
This year, the district will offer gold marriage certificates for 10 lucky couples on the day, and other souvenirs for other newly weds.
A Bang Khunthian district office poster tells couples they can register their marriage at the Valentine's Day "Candle of Love" event at The Bright shopping mall on Rama II Road in Bangkok from 8am to 4pm. (Photo: Bang Khunthian district Facebook page)