Marriage Equality in Thailand: Rights for Every Couple, and Health

I still clearly remember the atmosphere on 23 January 2025. Many couples I care for sent me photos of their marriage certificates. Some had been together for more than twenty years and were finally named on the same document for the first time. One man said to me, "If he's ever seriously ill, I won't have to stand outside the room as 'just a friend' anymore." That sentence made me realise that marriage equality isn't only about the wedding; it's directly about health and real life.

What is marriage equality?

Marriage equality means granting the right to marry equally to couples of every gender, whether man–woman, man–man, woman–woman or other gender-diverse pairings.

In Thailand, the law is an amendment to the Civil and Commercial Code, published in the Royal Gazette in September 2024 and in force from 23 January 2025 (B.E. 2568). Its key points:

• It replaces the words "man, woman, husband, wife" with gender-neutral terms such as "person", "betrothed" and "spouse".
• It sets the minimum age for engagement and marriage at 18.
• It made Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia to recognise same-sex marriage.

On the first day the law took effect, more than 1,800 gender-diverse couples registered their marriages across the country.

What rights do spouses of every gender receive?

Issues still awaiting amendment

Many related laws still use the words "father", "mother", "husband" and "wife", so some issues, such as legal parenthood of children, the use of assisted reproductive technology and some rights under agency regulations, aren't yet fully clear. Changing your title (such as Mr or Ms) to match your gender identity falls under a separate law, the draft gender recognition bill, which is still being pushed forward.

Spouses

Property

• Marital property
• Rights on divorce

Inheritance

• Statutory heir
• As a spouse

Tax and finance

• Spousal tax deductions
• Insurance and joint transactions

Welfare benefits

• Civil service, social security
• Employer benefits per regulations

Medical care

• Access to information
• Joint decisions when the other cannot

Family

• Joint adoption
• Under the law's conditions

General information, not legal advice. Some matters still await amendment of related laws.

How does marriage equality relate to health?

From a doctor's point of view, legal recognition genuinely affects health.

• A US study (Raifman et al., JAMA Pediatrics 2017) found that after policies recognising same-sex marriage, rates of suicide attempts among high school students fell, particularly among sexual-minority students.
• Legal security reduces the chronic stress of discrimination (minority stress), a risk factor for depression and anxiety (see LGBTQ+ health).
• Spouses can more clearly stay by each other's side in the emergency room, the ICU and at the end of life.

Planning your health together as spouses

1. Have a premarital or joint health check, for example for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and other STIs. Not because you don't trust each other, but so you can start out informed (see premarital and couples STI testing).
2. Talk about prevention. If one partner has HIV and takes treatment to an undetectable level, they don't transmit HIV through sex (see U=U).
3. Make an advance directive (living will) under Section 12 of Thailand's National Health Act B.E. 2550 (2007), stating your wishes about end-of-life treatment and naming the person you trust to help make decisions (see living will).
4. Plan for children. If you're thinking about having children, talk to a doctor and a lawyer early on.
5. Look after your relationship. Marriage doesn't solve every problem. Talking openly and asking for help when you're stuck are key (see common couple problems).

1. 1Get checked togetherHIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and other STIs
2. 2Talk about preventionIf one partner has HIV and is undetectable, it is not sexually transmitted
3. 3Make a living willUnder Section 12 of the National Health Act; name who decides with you
4. 4Plan for childrenTalk to a doctor and a lawyer early
5. 5Nurture the relationshipTalk openly and seek help when stuck

When your family doesn't yet accept you

Even though the law has opened the door, some families still need time. Conflict between a couple and their families of origin can hurt both partners. A neutral person to help with family conversations, or couples counselling, can help everyone listen to each other more. If stress is keeping you awake or you have thoughts of harming yourself, call 1323, Thailand's free mental-health hotline (Thai language; ask for English support).

Dr. Kris Clinic is here for every family

At Dr. Kris Clinic, I practise family medicine: caring for the whole person, the couple and the whole family. We offer premarital health checks and STI testing for couples, couples and family counselling through Kris Care Space, and information about making a living will, at the clinic in Surat Thani and online, with English-speaking consultations available. Congratulations to every couple, and we're ready to stand beside every family.