Affirmation of freedom to marry (UK)

[Foxx]

Has anybody applied for this in anticipation of gay marriage on January 22nd?

 

The embassy website states "The British embassy will assist British people in obtaining the necessary documentation for a same sex marriage in Thailand once the law enters into force and the Ministry of Interior outlines the procedures" which suggests to me that they will only do the affirmation thing on or some time after January 22nd, which seems nuts to me.

 

(I have messaged them, but it's always hit and miss as to whether they reply.)

[Foxx]

After a couple of surprisingly quick responses from the Embassy, it appears that one can apply for affirmation from January 22nd.

Still, this is a pretty piss-poor approach.  Given that the Ambassador (Mark Gooding) is gay and married, I'd have expected something a little more proactive.  (And he's not the first gay Ambassador to Thailand.)

The British Embassy in Bangkok has denied gay British men and women the right to get married for years, even though the Embassy is British sovereign territory, and not subject to Thai law.  And now they are just rubbing salt in the wound by delaying our right to have our relationships respected.  Some homophobic bigots there? Perhaps.

Just wondering, are other countries' embassies being more reasonable and issuing the required affirmation?

[onthemoon]

Maybe he has to follow the law? Just thinking.

 

Is there any reason you cannot wait until 22 January?

[Foxx]

4 minutes ago, onthemoon said:

Maybe he has to follow the law? Just thinking.

 

Is there any reason you cannot wait until 22 January?

 

22 January is just to apply for the affirmation (and that date is not guaranteed - it could be later).  There are a number of steps after that, including getting it translated and getting it legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

It's been a long time waiting to get the right to get married in Thailand, and the British Embassy is making us wait even longer, seemingly pointlessly.

 

 

[onthemoon]

We got married in Germany in 2013. We have no problem waiting one more month to get the marriage recognised in Thailand.

 

I understand you are not married yet, but what is your hurry?

[petermik]

3 hours ago, onthemoon said:

 

 

I understand you are not married yet, but what is your hurry?

Second thoughts.........

[Foxx]

3 hours ago, onthemoon said:

I understand you are not married yet, but what is your hurry?

 

There's a certain frustration for having had to wait for so many years for Thailand finally to legalise marriage, and the hope and expectation that we could finally do so in late January - a hope dashed by the British Embassy.