Thailand's Senate has passed a marriage equality bill in a move to make the country the first in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriage.
The bill was supported by an overwhelming majority of upper house lawmakers in a vote Tuesday. The legislation will be submitted for royal endorsement and is expected to come into force 120 days after its publication in the Royal Gazette by the end of this year.
The House of Representatives had passed the bill in March.
Under the law, same-sex couples will be granted the same marriage rights as heterosexual couples, including the rights to adopt children and inherit assets.
The law uses gender-neutral terms, referring to married couples as "two individuals" rather than "a man and a woman."
LGBTQ+ individuals from any country will be able to register their marriages in Thailand or with their Thai partners. Foreign same-sex couples will be eligible for a spousal visa.
Thailand is known for its LGBTQ+ culture and tolerance. Earlier this month, thousands of LGBTQ+ people participated in a Pride parade in Bangkok and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin joined it.
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