A House committee studying the marriage equality bill will invite influential members of the LGBTQ community to become advisers so that they can provide their input.
The committee held its first meeting on Wednesday after the House approved all four bills seeking to amend the Civil and Commercial Code to allow same-sex marriages during their first reading on Dec 21.
The bills, which will be consolidated into one, aim to redefine legal terms to ensure gender equality and diversity in the country.
The panel consists of 39 MPs and members of the civil sector. Danuporn Punnakanta, a Pheu Thai list-MP and former actor, was selected as chair, and seven others were selected as deputies.
Deputy government spokesperson Rudklao Suwankiri was appointed as the committee’s spokesperson.
The committee plans to invite officials from the justice, finance, interior, social development and foreign affairs ministries, as well as the Office of the Judiciary and the Council of State, to help with its mission.
She added that the committee would also invite LGBTQ influencers and celebrities to become advisers, said Ms Rudklao.
Among them are TV show hosts, including Kachapa “Mod Dam” Toncharoen and Vuthithorn “Woody” Milintachinda, event organiser Sombat “Pa Tue” Tirasaroj, and Kritkul “Thank” Chumkaew, the owner of the After Yum restaurant.
The committee expects a bill to be passed into law this year, she said.
Akkaranan Kankittinan, a Pheu Thai MP for Kanchanaburi and deputy chair of the committee, said it would appoint the advisers on Wednesday.
The influencers and celebrities are expected to also join the meeting.
The final version of the bill will be the first in history to include public participation in an amendment process, and it will be the first step towards equality for members of the LGBTQ community, said Mr Akkaranan.
Chumaporn Taengkliang, a civil society representative, praised the committee’s “good move” to have LGBTQ representatives attend meetings.
The bill could raise the hopes of people who are waiting for equality nationwide, she said.