AP PHOTOS: As Thailand approves same-sex marriage, couple celebrates sense of freedom

BANGKOK (AP) — Kunchanok Khantiphong and Edward Jonathan Caiga were at work when Thailand’s Senate voted on a June afternoon to allow same-sex marriage.

That evening at home, the couple celebrated with hopeful conversations about how their lives would change. Marriage and starting a family were important to both of them. Now it could become a reality.

Thailand’s groundbreaking marriage equality bill was officially introduced Tuesday after being approved by King Maha Vajiralongkorn. LGBTQ+ couples will be able to register their marriages from January, making Thailand the third place in Asia, after Taiwan and Nepal, to allow same-sex marriage.

Caiga, who came to Thailand from the Philippines 17 years ago, said he feels safer and more confident knowing he will be able to live permanently in his adopted home, adopt a child or buy a house with his partner.

Caiga says the “Freed” tattoo on his right arm is meant to represent liberation from other people’s negative opinions, whether they are about race, culture or diversity.

“This law will help continue to provide basic necessities that are fair to anyone who wants to spend the rest of their life with the people they love,” he said.

Kunchanok, 27, and Caiga, 42, say they plan to get married as soon as the law comes into effect.

Thailand has a reputation as an accepting country and inclusiveness, but has struggled for decades to pass a marriage equality law. Thai society generally has conservative values, and members of the LGBTQ+ community say they face discrimination in their daily lives.

The Pheu Thai Party-led government has made marriage equality one of its main goals. It has had a significant presence in annual Bangkok Pride parade in June, during which thousands of people celebrated in one of Bangkok’s busiest shopping districts.

Kunchanok said the law was a milestone in a country where it was previously very difficult to love someone of the same sex.

“After this, we can almost be the whole package. A real couple. A legal couple. I can take care of him because he’s here alone,” he said.

On a bright Saturday morning, the couple rode their bikes to a nearby park to feed the birds and fish. Later, they video-chatted with Edward’s family in the Philippines.

“Thailand is now my home,” Edward said.