Thai lower house approves bill to legalize same-sex marriage [Video]

• Lawmakers in Thailand’s lower house of Parliament approved a marriage equality bill on Wednesday.
• The bill passed its final reading with the approval of 400 out of 415 members of the House of Representatives in attendance.
• The bill now moves to the Senate, where approval is anticipated.

Lawmakers in Thailand’s lower house of Parliament overwhelmingly approved a marriage equality bill on Wednesday that would make the country the first in Southeast Asia to legalize equal rights for marriage partners of any gender.

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

The bill amends the Civil and Commercial Code to change the words “men and women” and “husband and wife” to “individuals” and “marriage partners.” It would open up access to full legal, financial and medical rights …