Thailand’s junta government have enacted the countries first LGBTIQ protection laws as of Wednesday this week.
The Gender Equality Act is designed to protect and promote gender equality in the Southeast Asian nation. Originally passed in March, the laws have officially come into effect this week.
The new law stipulates that “unfair discrimination among the sexes means any act or failure to act which segregates, obstructs or limits any rights, whether directly or indirectly, without legitimacy because that person is male or is female or has a sexual expression different from the person’s original sex.”
These laws are specifically designed to support Thailand’s large and ever-growing trans and intersex community. A Thai university recently led the way and made moves to adopt uniform codes that also encourage a safe environment for gender diverse people.
Offenders may now face fines of up to 20,000 baht, up to six months prison time or a combination of the two.
OIP Staff
