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June's 2024 Pride Month is fast approaching in Thailand, so I thought now would be the perfect time to explain the Thai legislative process and what the future of the Marriage Equality Bill looks like:

How Does A Bill Become Law in Thailand? I'm going to explain it as simple as possible. A bill is always first introduced into the National Assembly. The National Assembly is broken down into two houses: you have the lower house (House of Representatives) and the upper house (Senate). First, the bill goes through consideration in the lower house and there's three separate readings. Once it gets approved on its third reading, it's then sent to the upper house where it has to go through the same process. Again, it goes through three separate readings. Then if it's approved on its third reading, the PM (Prime Minister) sends it to the King for royal approval. If the King signs the bill, it'll become law once it is published in the Royal Gazette.

At What Point in the Process is the Marriage Equality Bill? In April, the Senate voted "Yes" to accept the bill for consideration. A committee will be formed to consider the bill in its second reading--which will not happen until July. So, really we're just waiting because the current senatorial term ends early this month... Unfortunately, given the timeframe of how the process works, the bill was never going to be realistically passed by Pride 2024. It is a little bit disappointing, but there's still lots to celebrate. Thailand is seeking to host the World Pride Events in Bangkok by 2028...So there is a lot to look forward to, regardless. (Best case scenario*, marriage equality will be legal by November 🤞🏾🤞🏾🤞🏾)

What Will Happen during the Second Reading in the Senate? The second reading is where things get a little more complicated. This is probably the biggest hurdle to overcome for the bill to be passed as quickly as possible. Once the committee is appointed, they'll be going through the bill section by section. Any amendments that were proposed from the lower house, which this go around is mostly just about equal representation in the language of the bill, will be considered (Consideration cannot exceed 30 days). The hope is that all 27 members of the committee will vote to agree with the amendments and then the bill will be revised as such. However, at this stage, if the committee cannot come to a full agreement, then the amendments must be debated. During debate, if the majority approve the amendments, the text is revised and the bill moves on to the third reading. If the bill is withheld, meaning the Senate doesn't agree to any of the amendments, it goes back to the lower house for reconsideration.

What Happens if the Bill is Presented for Reconsideration in the Lower House? The lower house can agree and approve the bill as is. But if the lower house does not agree with the Senate's decision or if the Senate has proposed amendments that the lower house does not agree with, then the two houses must form a joint committee that will work to resubmit an agreed upon version of the bill. From there, my knowledge is pretty limited, but I know due to the numbers from the houses initial votes, the bill would eventually be approved by a combination of votes from both houses.

What Happens during the Third Reading in the Senate? During the third reading of the bill, the Senate must decide whether to enact the bill as law or not. They're not allowed to change anything on the bill and they cannot debate any of the amendments. It's just: here's the bill, it's being presented as it's been approved by the second reading, should it be passed as law or not? One more than the majority of the vote is needed in the upper house in order for the bill to be approved.

What Happens if the Senate Votes "No" on the Bill? The bill can be reintroduced into the lower house after 180 days. If the lower house votes to approve the bill that was presented in the third reading of the upper house (which they will), it basically bypasses the Senate's decision to not approve the bill. From there it'll go directly from the lower house to the PM... who will present it to the King for royal approval. Like I've been saying: the bill is eventually going to become law at some point. It's just a matter of when. Because if the Senate decides to make things difficult, then it would just take longer for the bill to pass. Since it's going to pass eventually, we want everything to go as smoothly as possible without any hiccups.

What is the Likelihood of the Senate Voting "Yes"? It's hard to give a definitive answer. The expectation is that, since they know the bill is going to eventually become law anyway, they're just going to do the decent thing and approve it so that they don't have to prolong things any further... because it's taken long enough at this point. The problem is that the upper house is more notoriously known as the conservative house of the National Assembly. And if you understand Thai and were paying attention to the discussions that were going on in their first reading, you can kind of see why that is. Unfortunately, there is a chance that they're going to want to make things more difficult... but I'm hopeful that they won't.

What Happens if the Senate Votes "Yes"? Once the National Assembly approves the bill, it goes to the King for approval. After the King receives the bill from the PM, he would have a period of twenty days from when he received it to sign it into law. Once it is signed, it is arranged for publication in the gazette. After 120 days from its publication, it is considered officially legal in Thailand.

Can the King Veto the Bill? He can...BUT the King's never used his veto once the National Assembly has approved a bill. In the extremely rare case that he does, the lower house would reintroduce the bill and the National Assembly would vote to bypass the King's veto anyway. The bill can then be sent directly to the gazette, with or without the King's signature, to be published into law. 

*The best case scenario, overall, is that 1) the Senate votes to approve any and all amendments during the second reading and 2) in the third reading they vote to approve the bill in its amended form. Then the PM will present that bill to the King, it'll be signed, and then published in the gazette. And, that's it. Then you have marriage equality in Thailand. Officially!!!   

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

Marriage equality has been in talks for a while in Thailand, and a lot of us were frustrated when it didn't get passed the first few times around. Now that we know that it's going to be legal, I'm hopeful about what this could mean in the future: Gender recognition... full and equal protection under the law... I was 11 when I moved to the United States to live with my dad (I won't get into the reasons why, they're very personal) and ~11 years later, when marriage equality passed I could not express the amount of joy that had overcome me...and I was only 21 at the time, with no intention of being married in the near future. Yet, for some reason, I felt as though I could not be fully excited because things were so different back home. What I could have here, I could not have if I ever decided to move back to Thailand. That's not to say that Thailand is not very culturally accepting of the LGBTQIA+ community, because they are (for the most part), it's just that the laws have failed to keep up. Given my personal situation, which I don't typically feel comfortable sharing with people I don't really know, something as simple as being able to change my gender indicator on my Thai I.D. and my passport...those are things that can now be dreamt into reality. Whereas before, it was something that you couldn't even fathom being a discussion had marriage equality not been passed. It's just a really big deal and I'm happy to see that it's finally happening! ❤️

#marriage equality in thailand #thai politics #lgbtq+ #things are changing for the better #as someone who used to dreamed about escaping to the more lgtbq+ accepting places these development in our country give me so much hope #ถึงจะนานไปหน่อยแต่บ้านเราในที่สุดก็มาถึงจุดนี้ #ขอบคุณมากคับ สําหรับ post นี้ #<3

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Throwback to when I took painkillers and woke up with Photoshop open on my computer to this image I had made

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No in between. Reblog if you vote pleas

#def cold for people who live in tropical zone

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“From now on, your life might not be easy. Don’t worry about me. Love isn’t that big of a deal.”

MOONLIGHT CHICKEN (2023)

bonus:

#moonlight chicken #thai bl

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Ming - I'll treat you horribly because I'm a piece of shit.

Joe - *heart emoji eyes activated*

That boy does not hear a word out of Ming's pretty pouty mouth.

Not. One. Fucking. Word.

#my stand in the series #my stand in #to be fair up do look like a trouble i don't mind getting into

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#yu gi oh

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#a diaper brand mascot 🤣 #and a stuffed devil

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BOOK KASIDET as SHONE in ONLY BOO THE SERIES

#only boo the series #book kasidet

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My boyfriend sent me this meme he just made and I'm laughing so hard

#ffxiv #lol #i hate that hippie elves town sometime

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Where and who you’re going with is your business. But I want you to know who I was with. I was with my cousin. I’m very close with him. Mom noticed that I’ve been quiet, so she sent him to check on me. When he came, he took me out for a meal. That’s it. Really?

Only Boo! (2024) Episode 4

#only boo! #only boo the series #thai bl

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TayNew | Polca Time Traveling Concert

cr: 247withuuuu

#taynew #tay tawan #new thitipoom #god damn it now i want to go to these kind of concerts #but it's so expensive though

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Only Boo! Ep 4 Stray Thoughts

Last week, Kang tried to discourage Moo from spending all of his time with him and to focus on his studies. However, Moo has a crush and is flirting relentlessly, to the point that he pulled both of them into nasty pond water. We left at Moo confessing directly during a sponge bath hug.

Moo is so funny. He's not gonna let this man pretend that hug wasn't intentional.

I like Moo. He went to the person he thought would be Kang's girlfriend, and then immediately brought her onto his side.

I respect Kang for resisting. He has good and bad reasons that are all valid.

EP 4: IF YOU LIKE HIM, FLIRT WITH HIM🥂

Why is the mom so prickly about Kang possibly caring about Moo?

What in the How To Be A Normal Person by TJ Klune is this flirting guide?

Suddenly Book.

I agree with Shone, we should continue to berate Moo about spending all of his money on a bike.

I do like the reminder that Book is in his mid-20s, and is a senior to these boys.

I feel so bad for Payos. This crush is painful to watch.

Neth is a lot of fun. I'm glad Milk is having a good time.

This child just broke the fourth wall to call me single!!!

Moo is charming and earnest; a good combination.

I cannot stand how quickly people pull out phones to record each other.

I like the little scene where Moo helps the other dancers. We need a moment for them to turn.

It's kinda cool how committed this show is to including the teachers doing their jobs to keep Moo on task.

That's right, girls. Hit 'em up, style.

Mom down! I've had enough of parent health scares!

The gay boys are finally bonding.

I'm gonna need Potae to realize how much Payos loves him soon.

Kang you are convincing no one when you wash his smelly jacket.

Mixed feelings about the first kiss being a fantasy sequence. I'm glad for the confirmation that Kang is receptive to the advances, but this always feels like a cop out to me.

I hope they do something more work with Book..we haven't even seen Louis yet. It's clear they're building to some sort of entertainment future for Moo, so I'm curious how that will progress.

#only boo! #only boo the series #thai bl #i wanted to murder that boy so bad when he broke the fourth wall #as a person who normally has his mom peel prawns for him at those kind of restaurant this hurts

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ONLY BOO! Ep 4 | If You Like Him, Flirt With Him

#only boo the series #thai bl #i hate it here #cry in single

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Only Boo! EP 4 Unhinged Tangent Thoughts

"Characters, actions, places, occupations, and events in this series. are fictional and created solely to be unabashedly cute and unhinged. they are definitely intended to urge and promote brainrot behavior. viewer discretion is not advied, please turn your brain off for the full enjoyment."

That's a horrible advice in most normal situations. but i'll give Neth a pass here cause she's so god dang right about this one. anyway kids remember to respect boundaries unless a magical lesbian told you not to when it come to her tsundere best friend.

Boy, you're down bad already just admit it. also the "you're not gay you just have attachment issues." kang, maybe moo is both gay and has attachment issues, did you ever think about that.

"Moo noi muak daeng" why is this work on me. AHHHH! show stop assaulting me with your stupid cheesy cuteness. at this rate i'm going to bleed to dead with pink goo coming off of my body.

*me foaming at the mouth from how beautiful this man is*

Yes two manic pixie dream boys as cousins. the unhingedness is strong in this bloodline. oh and side tangent moo called shone *Hia and shone called moo *tie so this confirm that they're of chinese descent, like me. and another side tangent, i never got call hia from my chinese side of the family cause i'm cursed by being one of the youngest in all the cousins and those that are younger than me calls me *Phi for some god dang reason. anywoo that's my very dumb pet peeve.

Oh to be in love with your oblivious best friend. the folly of youth, said the person who used to be in love with his "straight" swedish gaming friend in his 20's.

3,000 damn, i need to up my cuteness game so i can go mooch off my Hias and Jeas

Well Fuck you too you little shit. i hate prawns anyway *sobs sobs*

This poem is full cheese and kinda good.

Gamers (non TM) represent!

Math is indeed posion for dumb people like us baby, i feels you.

Cock blocked by the principle. that's new.

I give up, this boy can do whatever with my heart.

Legends, i need a GL with these two asap. make it happen GMMTV!

Ok, this is why you shouldn't make big life decisions base on dicks. baby you're going to regret this when you're older. good dicks will come to you natruly you don't need to give up your whole life for them. also this boy sucked so hard you can do better.

*continuing foaming at the mouth from this man radiant*

*Facepalm*

Kang you're hallucinating a whole song and dance. just go kiss this boy irl! also go chack that there is no gas leaked in your house.

ok i need to watch a horror movie or something after getting bashed repeatedly with a baseball bat made from sweets and wholesomeness.

#only boo the series #thai bl #bl drama #dumb boy unhinged thoughts #only boo!

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that’s a tall drink of water right there

#monster next door #big thanakorn #thai actors

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#gakuen babysitters