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Country Overview

Thailand

At a glance

Same-sex Relations for Men Legal Throughout the Country?

Yes

Same-sex Relations for Women Legal Throughout the Country?

Yes

Legal Gender Recognition Possible?

No

LGBTI Orgs Able to Register?

Yes

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Thailand is widely known to be progressive on LGBTIQ issues; however, LGBTIQ people still face barriers to full equality. While large cities, like Bangkok, are more LGBTIQ-friendly, rural parts of the country tend to be more conservative on LGBTIQ issues. In 2015, the Gender Equality Act was passed, making discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity illegal. However, the act allows for religious exceptions, as well as exceptions in education and for the public interest. These exceptions significantly weaken the force of this otherwise progressive law. LGBTIQ people still experience discrimination in employment, among other areas. Although transgender people are visible in society, and gender reassignment surgeries are available, there is no formal path to legal gender recognition, leaving trans people vulnerable. While same-sex unions are not yet legal, both a civil partnership bill and a marriage equality bill have been progressing through Thailand’s legislative bodies and are awaiting further approval. Several political parties have expressed support for LGBTIQ people’s human rights, and openly LGBTIQ people have been elected to political office. Surveys suggest that non-LGBTIQ people hold generally favorable views about the LGBTIQ community. 

 

Global Impact

Sub-Saharan Africa

Outright supports LGBTIQ organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa and works with mainstream human rights organizations to respect human rights and influence positive changes in laws, policies, attitudes and beliefs that cause discrimination against LGBTIQ people.

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United Nations

Our work at the United Nations centers around advocating for the advancement of the rights of LGBTIQ people.

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Asia

Our work in Asia promotes acceptance of sexual and gender diversity at all levels of society.

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Middle East and North Africa

In the Middle East and North Africa, we partner with local groups in various countries as part of our international solidarity work. We also work with our local partners on different topics through capacity building, advocacy, research and holistic security.



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Europe and Central Asia

Outright International partners with activists to fight for an end to human rights violations based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in Europe and Central Asia, where most of our work involves emergency responses to harassment, discrimination, violence, and most recently, Russia’s brutal and expanded invasion of Ukraine.

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Americas

Our work in the Americas continues to build on the fundamental and positive transformation of human rights protections in recent years. We partner with groups in the Caribbean that focus on ending gender-based violence and eradicating discrimination against trans people.

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Pacific

Our work in the Pacific aims to increase the visibility of activists, respond to human rights emergencies, and actively bridge local, regional, and international activism to achieve equality and justice.

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Human Rights Research

Since 1990, we have partnered with activists from all over the world to produce hundreds of groundbreaking reports.

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