Thailand approves same-sex marriage

Thailand has become the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriage after the senate approved amendments to marriage laws in a historic vote. The new legislation, awaiting royal assent, will allow same-sex couples to legally marry and have the same rights as heterosexual couples, including adoption and inheritance. LGBTQ activists hailed the move as a “victory” against prejudice in the largely conservative Buddhist kingdom, which has long been regarded as tolerant towards the LGBTQ community.