But in the 2019 election which returned Thailand to civilian rule, a new, youthful reformist party called Future Forward, which fully supported equal marriage, did unexpectedly well. They won the third-largest share of seats, revealing a growing hunger for change in Thailand.

Weddings took place across the country, including at a Bangkok mall, as same-sex marriage became legal. Thailand is one of the few places in Asia where it’s allowed.

It was a historic day in Thailand as hundreds of LGBTQ couples became legally married. It’s the first nation in Southeast Asia to guarantee equal marital rights for same-sex couples. Patpicha Tanakasempipat attended the mass marriage registration event.