LAWMAKERS in Thailand’s lower house of parliament overwhelmingly approved a marriage equality Bill today that would make the country the first in south-east Asia to legalise equal rights for marriage partners of either sex.

The Bill passed its final reading with the approval of 400 of the 415 members of the House of Representatives in attendance, with 10 voting against it, two abstaining and three not voting.

Thailand has struggled for decades to pass a marriage equality law.