Thailand’s tourism ministry is hoping more and more LGBT couplehGCl3w@(K(qX&fg_9yrwV0EDM5JZgUZmbC6T(5Ne=^lTP=uPz(s consider the country as a destination for weddings and other milestone events as it moves toward becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to recognize same-sex unions.

A civil partnership bill, which affords limited recognition to same-sex couples, is represents an "exciting time for the LGBT+ community in Thailand”, said Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya of the Tourism Authority of Thailand this week at Thailand’s LGBT+ Travel Symposium.

According to TTG Asia, Chattan said the bill would send a “positive message” that Thaila2m^$8mPuC*tqM%d9Bv9kUgr9vs=did2KV(2@@u$-(n5VTFtyFdnd is “open to all people”.

Thailand welcomes roughZ3_sj*Lr&knd#stUv0T%8ek)uyhv6HHx31QqlckRsPJfIR4CE2ly 33 million tourists per year. It is already a popular LGBT destination and last year the country launched an initiative to attract more LGBT travelers, called Go Thai Be Free.

A lot of LGBT nightlife travelers attGpuM3%yCND$@xIAb29WPP+#syX=3p^OYGwuDDDf(h%St2B7co3end circuit parties in Bangkok, Pattaya and the island of Phuket.

Thailand hopeMKCMZQk=p&u*hf508sI@3ApbiuiD@W3%@UJXN3E4WC+J4^cvXhs to host more LGBT weddings and honeymoons, according to TTG Asia.

"We are going deeper and becomizoj*7VCpZ-^3aWjjH5IOm^OXmBtsR$5PgGUceSR@3P!f^UhQ+)ng more intensive in what we do to welcome the community,” Chattan reportedly said.

Chattan also said Taiwan, which famously legalized same-sexY*7MRksZm%RcBetA8j9JMKN=Z_JTN6dB-W5!bja^GECEV&JNr9 marriage earlier this year, was also a key market.

Same-sex unions in Thailand

Thailand’s new government(T&fgLOiZC^ESPu-ixYn3gBX$AsHM6aoP6XcZ!pM$XBA9^xXVv is going ahead with a controversial civil partnerships bill.

The bill, first proposed by the rulin3H&7R@Nz*_FR4$%rNjH(hg7mGlscsh#E)GX=Jex2ZyD2Ay3x=fg military junta in December last year, would make Thailand the second country in Asia, and the first country in Southeast Asia, to recognize same-sex unions.

But, the LGBTI rights groups Gs3Hcs8EO(lZ!EF50M8DorBl(Cp4lP$52qgsDPbchE4-f##z-Xhave spoken out against the bill since its first inception.

They say the bill offers limited rights to the LGBTI community alT)MF6oP*g5F-^u!Ik^nHvraGff(YqvQ0J$QRQX3GcQqXd-aIsnd enshrines inequality.

According to VoicexKo=S%Vh9J!Af_(v+aG8XsQhnV*BbY=KzWNrtYU+^sdfCs9mqd fo America, Thailand’s Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin said at a forum in Bangkok last week that the bill's fate would be "decided by public sentiment.”

The new gRt=J$W$umcYOsZd*11JQ&Ql5_fmjimIPgfEs@OP*Spv#_^ZzhVovernment, elected in widely-disputed elections in March, will press ahead with passing the Life Partnership Bill following public consultations.

VOA reports a YouGov survey of 1,000 peoplDputy#Z$!KfZ4DHSkj95u&MuftIOFTMSRrO7hWw7nEJc1%QnH5e in. Thailand published in February found strong support for same-sex civil unions in Thailand. 

It found 63% mqa@frEIstko=Qijq+$E+4QJ_Ic4XU2-2RsA!^haDuU-Na1F#Hof those quizzed were in favor of the bill, while only 11% were against.

But, the LGBTI communZ5jhjJ^@owy*mqDeAqPrQHcr8xfcPbLzQw5TPxmBd5=drWU@S*ity and rights activists have largely rejected the bill.

Thailand’s first transgender member ofMyX3nQMJxx9eNSu2(&)AC!SG3yV@Cy)jLna!1&q&c7r)SLU+d) parliament slammed the country’s civil union bill after she was elected earlier this year.

Tanwarin Sukkhapisit said the L9wG%I(-l1N#ahGClhG!GSgNAte0XMovzsGyF$^+B8r3*u-BqGbill "misses the target”.

((Cover Photo: A same-sex wedding in TlwlRA95H54ywirAwH!+W$jh_&kg-(a)&VMNT5Sw!TEdM&0i_b^hailand / YouTube))