Harriet and Araya, two Thai women who got married in the UK, raise their hopes for genuine gender equality in their home country. Except for societal acceptance, same-sex couples in Thailand are expected to gain rights with the passing of the marriage equality bill.
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00:00 They just want to be a family like any other.
00:04 This is Araya, her wife Harriet and their five-month-old daughter Leah.
00:10 The two Thai women got married in the UK seven years ago and have been waiting since then
00:15 to finally tie the knot in their home country too.
00:20 This would make things easier, fairer.
00:22 When we have a baby together, she should get some benefit from her company, like support
00:32 for education fee or the medical support from the company that she works for, like a normal
00:41 couple, like between man and woman.
00:45 But for us, it's woman and woman, we cannot get that.
00:49 Currently only Araya is the legal guardian of their daughter, while Harriet is the only
00:55 official owner of their home because they could not legally share the mortgage.
01:00 As things are now, if Harriet were to leave the house to Araya in the event of her death,
01:07 it would attract high inheritance taxes.
01:10 The lower house of parliament is making moves to change all of that.
01:14 It's passed the marriage equality bill.
01:17 The law still has to be approved by the Senate and signed into law by the King.
01:22 Nayana Sepapeng has been fighting for this for many years.
01:28 When we talk about greater social acceptance, it didn't happen overnight.
01:33 It's because LGBTQ+ individuals have refused to be suppressed and have continuously fought
01:38 for their rights over time.
01:42 She is one of the most important representatives of civil society, giving evidence in the continuing
01:48 Senate hearings on the matter.
01:51 She says that the conservative pro-military government that ruled Thailand in the past
01:56 tried to slow liberalisation.
01:59 But that ended when the Pew Thai party, which is now in power, was one of the major parties
02:05 who included marriage equality in its campaign promises.
02:10 Araya and Harriet are optimistic that the bill will become law.
02:14 And they are also hoping for further changes.
02:17 The bill will only concern marriage.
02:20 The legal terms "father" and "mother" will not be affected.
02:24 Currently one of the women has to register as father to their daughter.
02:29 They fear this legal grey zone does not give them full parental rights.
02:34 It would be good if the first law is passed for same-sex marriage and then the parent
02:41 certificate can be come later.
02:43 But we hope that that will be…
02:45 We can wait.
02:46 We can wait, yeah.
02:48 That may take longer.
02:50 But their wait for the Equal Marriage Act seems nearly over.
02:54 The law will come into force 120 days after the King signs it.
03:00 Then the two will have the big party they've always dreamed of.
03:04 And get married again.
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