'Victory for the people', say activists after Thailand approves same-sex marriage

A member of the LGBTQ community celebrates after the Thai parliament passed the final senatorial vote on the same sex marriage bill, at Government House in Bangkok on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. Thailand on June 18 became the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise same-sex marriage, in a historic parliamentary vote hailed as a "victory" by campaigners. - AFP

BANGKOK (AFP): Thailand on Tuesday became the first country in South-East Asia to legalise same-sex marriage, in a historic parliamentary vote hailed as a "victory" by campaigners.

The upper house Senate gave final approval -- by 130 votes to four, with 18 abstentions -- to changes to the marriage law allowing same-sex couples to tie the knot.