Thailand makes history with same-sex marriage bill signed by King Maha Vajiralongkorn

Thailand’s king has signed a law allowing same-sex marriage, the Royal Gazette reported Tuesday, making Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia and the largest in Asia to recognize marriage equality.

King Maha Vajiralongkorn has given royal assent to the new law, passed by parliament in June, which will come into effect in 120 days – meaning the first weddings are set to take place in January.

Thailand has become the third place in Asia, after Taiwan and Nepal, where same-sex couples can marry.

Marriage law currently uses the gender-neutral terms “men”, “women”, “husbands” and “wives”, and also grants same-sex couples the right to adoption and inheritance.