A law allowing same-sex couples to formally register as life partners should be drafted by September, Rights and Liberties Protection Department chief Pitikarn Sitthidech said on Saturday.

It would then be submitted to Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister ACM Prajin Juntong, who would decide whether it should go to the Cabinet, she said. Pitikarn said the sub-panel drafting the legislation that’s been hailed by some as a progressive step towards the legalisation of gay marriage would meet on July 25 to review its 63 articles.

Panel members were likely to make adjustments, she said, some based on the experiences of other countries that have adopted similar legislation, such as Mexico, South Africa, Canada, Australia and Britain.

The bill would be forwarded to the Rights Department’s law development committee for further tweaking in September, and then to Prajin, Pitikarn said.

She pointed out that the process in some countries had taken up to 10 years, but Prajin wanted to fast-track Thailand’s version because of the many LGBT (lesbian, gay, transgendered and bisexual) citizens who deserve the same rights as everyone else. Read more via The Nation

Writing of civil partnership bill to be finished in September

The civil partnership bill for same-sex couples is in the final stages of drafting, which will be completed by September, according to the Justice Ministry.

The justice minister gave four guidelines for the last meeting. First, he wants to see the department propagate the knowledge about the bill to create an understanding as it involves a sensitive issue in Thai society.

Second, a study must be conducted on how Thailand will endorse the status of couples who entered a civil partnership in another country and what rights they will be entitled to when they come to Thailand.

Third, the bill should start from registering as civil partners and the registering agency should be clearly spelled out -- whether it will be the Interior Ministry or the Justice Ministry. Fourth, the law will be upgraded to legalise same-sex marriages at a later date. Read more via Bangkok Post