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Pride Parade in Bangkok, Thailand, 2023
Thailand just made history! On January 23rd, 2025, the Equal Marriage Law came into effect, allowing same-sex couples to legally tie the knot. This is a massive win for love and equality, also a milestone for legal and social transformation towards true inclusion.
Although law alone cannot change society's attitudes, it can serve as a catalyst for change.
Thailand has come so far, but the journey—our journey—continues.
Watching this progress has been incredibly rewarding. Since 2015, I've had the privilege of working on initiatives that support LGBTI rights and inclusion. I’ve seen first and how crucial it is to address the challenges LGBTI individuals face—whether it’s raising awareness about their rights, tackling stereotypes and stigma, pushing for better data collection, advocating for relevant laws and policies or fostering inclusive workplaces.
My work also extends to training law enforcement on human rights and LGBTI issues, as well as advocating for the rights of sex workers, highlighting the importance of protecting marginalized communities. These experiences have deepened my belief in the power of collective action to build a society where everyone feels they belong.
Leading the Way in Southeast Asia
Thailand is now the first country in Southeast Asia to pass an equal marriage law. This is huge, especially with Thailand recently joining the UN Human Rights Council recently, in October 2024. It shows that Thailand is serious about human rights for all. Over the years, Thailand has made significant progress—protecting people from gender-based discrimination with the Gender Equality Act and voting in favor of key UN resolutions supporting LGBTI rights. Thailand has shown that equality is more than just a buzzword.
But while the law is a major step forward, there’s still a long way to go to ensure that LGBTI individuals truly feel accepted in all areas of life. In 2019, a UNDP study titled Tolerance but not Inclusion, shows that while 88% of people say they would accept LGBTI individuals outside their families, the number drops to just 75% when it comes to family members themselves. Even more concerning, nearly 50% of LGBTI individuals experience some form of discrimination from their own families. This highlights the need for deeper societal change alongside legal progress.
Pride Parade in Bangkok, Thailand, 2024
From Tolerance to True Inclusion: Voices from the LGBTI community
Thailand has always been relatively open-minded, but tolerance isn’t enough. Many LGBTI people still face discrimination, even from their families. What we need is a society where everyone feels accepted for who they are.
Take Matcha Phornin and Veerawan Wanna, for example. As an LGBTI ethnic family facing multi-layered discrimination, they have been fighting for marriage equality for years, both nationally and internationally. Over time, their paths have crossed ours as we’ve shared platforms for policy advocacy and raising awareness. Along with their adopted daughter, Siriwan Phornin, an Asian Girls Award recipient in 2020, they have been leading the charge through the Sangsan Anakot Yawachon Foundation and engaging with the global network as co-presidents of International Family Equality Day (IFED).
Wedding of Jeab (Matcha Phorn-in) and Joom (Veerawan Wanna) alongside their daughter, Hong (Siriwan Phorn-in)
Now, as Thailand celebrates this historic victory, Matcha and Veerawan are finally getting married themselves. Moreover, the marriage equality law allows them to legally co-adopt Siriwan as their daughter. It’s a powerful moment that reflects how far they’ve come and what they’ve fought for—a family, defined by them, for them.
“Our marriage is not just a personal milestone but a beacon of hope for our LGBTIQAN+ community, who dream of a more inclusive future. It stands as a powerful reminder that love and family, in all their forms, have the power to change laws, transform societies, and unite communities in the pursuit of equal rights for all. More than that, it is a step toward healing from generations of trauma and discrimination endured when our fundamental right to family was denied.” said Matcha Phornin, Director and Founder of Sangsan Anakot Yawachon Foundation.
Wedding of Jeab (Matcha Phorn-in) and Joom (Veerawan Wanna) participated by the ethnic communities in northern Thailand
We however also need to look at the challenges that many still face onwards. In schools, nearly 41% of LGBTI people experience discrimination, and among transgender women, that number jumps to 61%. Apart from that, Jeab and Jum will still encounter the binary labels of ‘father’ and ‘mother’ at their daughter’s school or in other social settings. It’s clear that while marriage equality law is coming into effect, legal reforms and attitudes still need to shift in schools, workplaces, and beyond.
Bridging the Data Gap – we need to know who is at risk of being left behind.
To keep moving forward, we need a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by LGBTI people, particularly those living in rural areas. Many individuals are still afraid to be open about their identities, and when they do, intersectionality and stigma often compound the difficulties they face. For example, factors like gender identity, age, or rural location can create unique challenges that are harder to capture in data. The stigma around LGBTI identities can discourage people from sharing their experiences, making it even more difficult to gather accurate information about their needs.
This challenge has been reflected when UNDP works with LGBTI communities in provinces outside Bangkok, such as the Pink Monkey Organization based in Lopburi province. Sarun Yodnil, Deputy Director of Corporate Events and Communications, Pink Monkey Organization based in Lopburi province shared that people in major districts or cities like Bangkok are relatively more aware of the LGBTI movement due to ongoing advocacy activities. “Our organization needs to work harder to raise awareness about gender diversity in rural districts of Lopburi province to ensure that this progress is not only city-centric but also reaches rural areas.”
Sarun Yodnil during policy advocacy campaign in Lopburi province
That’s why projects like UNDP’s SDG localization project in Thailand, supported by the EU and in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, are so important. By focusing on more inclusive data collection methods at the sub-national level that consider these compounding factors, we can ensure that policies are designed to meet the needs of everyone in diverse local contexts. At the same time, awareness-raising efforts at the local level help ensure that no one is left behind.
Sarun Yodnil also emphasized that the marriage equality law marks a milestone, but additional supporting laws are still needed. “Thailand still needs a gender recognition bill because it would allow individuals to choose their own title based on their self-defined gender identity, helping them clearly communicate their identities to their communities.” The gender recognition bill is also one of the supporting laws that UNDP is advocating for alongside LGBTI communities in Thailand.
Breaking Down Barriers in the Workplace
In schools, nearly 41% of LGBTI individuals face discrimination, with the number rising to 61% among transgender women. This highlights that despite legal progress, attitudes still need to shift in educational environments. We need schools where every student feels accepted and respected for who they are.
But discrimination doesn’t stop there—it continues in workplaces too. Statistics show that 18.8% of LGBTI people have experienced workplace discrimination, with transgender women being the most affected at 32.1%. This underscores that while inclusive laws are a significant step, more needs to be done to create truly welcoming and respectful workplaces.
Koko Kavindhra Tiamsai, a Thai transwoman advocate.
As Koko Kavindhra Tiamsai, a trans woman advocate in Thailand, explains, “Many trans women are still struggling to secure employment due to implicit bias and stigma of the heteronormative hiring view.” She shared her experience that even within companies, microaggressions, misgendering, and exclusion persist, while rigid workplace structures force many to suppress their identities to fit professional expectations. To create truly inclusive workplaces, she proposes that organizations adopt anti-discrimination policies, inclusive hiring practices, and gender-affirming benefits. Cultural shifts—such as LGBTI sensitivity training, safe spaces, and trans-inclusive visibility—are equally vital. A key issue is name recognition, as Koko notes, “Given that Thailand lacks legal gender recognition, many transgender employees are forced to use their assigned names in official work documents, creating distress and outing them against their will.” Enabling preferred name policies and fostering a culture of respect can make workplaces genuinely inclusive, allowing trans employees to thrive.
The private sector has an important role to play in this. UNDP, with support from Canada, launched the Inclusion Toolkit for Organizations and Businesses to help companies foster diversity and inclusion. This toolkit offers practical guidance, showing that embracing inclusive values is not only the right thing to do—it’s also beneficial for business. Thai companies are making strides, but there’s still room for many more to get involved.
And it’s not just about ethics. Businesses that embrace diversity and inclusion make better decisions—87% of businesses report improved decision-making in inclusive environments. On top of that, employees who feel valued perform up to 13% better, making a compelling case for diversity in the workplace.
Building a Culture of Belonging
Inclusion is not just about laws; it’s about creating a society where everyone feels they truly belong. While marriage equality is a significant step forward, there’s still much work to be done to ensure love, dignity, and equality are a reality for all.
Thailand’s progress is a victory not only for its people but also for the world. As the first country in Southeast Asia to pass an equal marriage law, Thailand is leading by example, showing that true equality benefits everyone. This historic milestone reaffirms Thailand's commitment to human rights and sends a powerful message to the rest of the world: no one should be left behind.
"Opening marriage for all is an important step towards equality for the LGBTIQ+ community in Thailand, and it was worth the long fight for it. But we must remember, that it is just one of the stations on a long journey, and we haven't reached the end station. So keep going - the next stations should come into sight. Gender recognition, and anti-discrimination laws are equally important. Celebrate the success, and use it to energize for the next step!" – Paul Overdijk, Member of Workplace Pride Foundation