Couples say ‘I do’ as Thailand legalizes same-sex marriage

The BBC spoke to LGBTQ couples in Thailand who tied the knot in a mass ceremony on the same day the country legalized same-sex marriage.

More than 100 couples were married on Thursday at Siam Paragon, a luxury shopping mall in central Bangkok, when the law came into effect.

LGBTQ couples now have the same rights as other couples to manage property, inherit, adopt, and make decisions about their partner’s medical treatment.

Districts across Thailand are trying to outdo each other with parties and giveaways like cupcakes, bags and free air tickets to celebrate the legal milestone.

Thailand has long been seen as a haven for LGBTQ people (it remains an outlier in Asia), but activists say they are fighting for more changes because many laws are still not gender-neutral.