BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s landmark marriage equality bill was officially written into law Tuesday, allowing same-sex couples to legally wed.
The law was published in the Royal Gazette after endorsement by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, and will come into effect in 120 days. This means LGBTQ+ couples will be able to register their marriage in January next year, making Thailand the third place in Asia, after Taiwan and Nepal, to allow same-sex marriage.
The bill, which grants full legal, financial and medical rights for marriage partners of any gender, sailed through both the House of Representatives and the Senate in April and June respectively.
“Congratulations to everyone’s love,” Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra wrote on X, adding the hashtag #Love Wins.
Thailand has a reputation for acceptance and inclusivity but struggled for decades to pass a marriage equality law. Thai society largely holds conservative values, and members of the LGBTQ+ community say they face discrimination in everyday life.
The government and state agencies are also historically conservative, and advocates for gender equality had a hard time pushing lawmakers and civil servants to accept change.
Bangkok Deputy Governor Sanon Wangsrangboon said last week that the city officials will be ready to register same-sex marriages as soon as the law gets enacted.
The legislation amended the country’s Civil and Commercial Code to replace gender-specific words such as “men and women” with gender-neutral words such as “individual.”
The government led by the Pheu Thai party has made marriage equality one of its main goals. It made a major effort to identify itself with the annual Bangkok Pride parade in June, in which thousands of people celebrated in one of Bangkok’s busiest commercial districts.
The organizers of Bangkok Pride announced on Facebook that it will organize a wedding for couples who wish to register their marriage on the very first day that the law becomes effective.
FILE - Participants hold a rainbow flag during the Pride Parade in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, June 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)
FILE - Participants hold posters celebrating equality in marriage during the Pride Parade in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, June 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles clinched their second straight playoff berth, overcoming Aaron Judge’s major league-leading 56th home run to beat the New York Yankees 5-3 on Tuesday night.
The Orioles’ win combined with Minnesota’s loss to Miami nine minutes later assured Baltimore at least an American League wild card.
Anthony Santander hit his 44th home run and Ramón Urías and Colton Cowser also went deep for Baltimore (87-80), which closed within five games of the AL East-leading Yankees (92-65) with five games left. The Orioles’ win clinched the season series and the tiebreaker against the Yankees, but Baltimore would have to finish 5-0 while New York goes 0-5 for the Orioles to finish atop the division.
New York, which clinched a playoff berth last week, would win the AL East with one more victory.
Baltimore had lost seven of its previous 10 games.
Santander homered in the sixth against Clarke Schmidt (5-5), a drive off the right-field foul pole. Eligible for free agency after the World Series, the switch-hitter has set career bests for homers and RBIs (100).
Urías boosted the lead to 4-1 with a home run against Tim Mayza starting the seventh.
Gleyber Torres’ two-out RBI double and Juan Soto’s run-scoring single against Yennier Cano in the bottom half cut the deficit to 4-3, but when Soto continued to second on Santander’s throw home from right, Torres got caught in a rundown between third base and home plate and was tagged out — preventing Judge from batting with two on.
Cowser homered off Ian Hamilton in the eighth.
Dean Kremer (8-10) allowed one run and three hits in five innings. Seranthony Domínguez, Baltimore's seventh pitcher, got two outs for his 11th save in 13 chances.
Schmidt gave up thee runs and four hits in five-plus innings.
Heston Kjerstad’s RBI grounder in the second and Ryan O’Hearn’s run-scoring single in the fourth following Schmidt’s wild pitch built a 2-0 lead.
Judge homered in the bottom half, a high drive to left field.
Knicks player Josh Hart, a great nephew of former Yankees catcher Elston Howard, threw out the ceremonial first pitch and former New York center fielder Bernie Williams, an acclaimed guitarist in his second career, played the national anthem.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Orioles: 1B Ryan Mountcastle was activated from the 10-day injured list after recovering from sprained left wrist sustained Aug. 22. He pinch hit in the sixth and went 1 for 2. ... RHP Grayson Rodriguez (lat) is still not facing hitters and did not make the trip.
Yankees: RHP Jake Cousins (right pectoral strain) hopes to start throwing in a few days and be available for a Division Series.
UP NEXT
Yankees LHP Nestor Cortes (9-10, 3.77 ERA) is 4-0 in his last seven starts going into Wednesday’s outing against RHP Zach Eflin (10-9, 3.54).
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
New York Yankees' Aaron Judge runs the basses after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
New York Yankees' Aaron Judge hits a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
Baltimore Orioles' Anthony Santander scores a run off a single from Ryan O'Hearn during the forth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
Baltimore Orioles' Anthony Santander crosses the plate after hitting a home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
Baltimore Orioles' Anthony Santander hits a home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
