Nepal, Jan. 28 -- January 23, 2025 was an historic day for Thailand and Southeast Asia. As a result of the new Thai law amending the longstanding Thai Civil and Commercial Code (taking effect 120 days after its royal promulgation in the final months of 2024), same sex couples are able to register their marriage and enjoy full rights and duties as spouses without gender discrimination. This is also the first time for a Southeast Asian country. It is a great cause for celebration, cherishing love and friendship in their gender diversity. It is also time to prospect for the 'next steps'.

In effect, nearly seventy sections of the Civil Code have been amended to delete binary wording such as man-woman, husbands-wives, male fiance-female fianc...