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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?

Yes

LGBTI Orgs Able to Register?

Yes

Actions Related to SOGI at the UN:

2016: Supported IE SOGI

2019:

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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 LGBTIQ friendly, rural parts of the country remain conservative on LGBTIQ issues. In 2015, The Gender Equality Act 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 experience discrimination in employment outside the entertainment industry. Thai media accurately and sympathetically addresses LGBTIQ issues. Although transgender people are visible in society, and gender reassignment surgeries are readily available, there is no path to legal gender recognition, leaving trans people vulnerable. While same-sex marriage is not allowed in Thailand; a civil partnership bill has been approved by the Cabinet and is awaiting Parliamentary approval in the latter half of 2020. Several political parties publicly express support for LGBTIQ people’s human rights.

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 on the continent.

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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 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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