Valentine's Day Disappointment: Lesbian Couple Vows To Lobby Yingluck After Failing To Get Married

[webfact]

Valentine's Day Disappointment: Lesbian couple vows to lobby Yingluck after failing to get married in Bang Rak

By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- A lesbian couple was left bereft in Bang Rak district after officers refused to issue a marriage certificate to them this morning.

Pallawee Jongtangsajjatham and Rungtiwa Tangkanopak were one of many couples that went to the Bang Rak District office to legalize their love on the newsjsoccasion of Valentine’s Day. But officers did not do as they were asked, saying that the power to do so for a same-sex couple was out of their reach.

Speaking to the Dailynews, the pair insisted that they would submit a request to review the regulation to the district office. If the officers failed to issue the certificate, Pallawee and Rungtiwa said they would file a complaint with the House of Representatives and meet with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to discuss the issue.

Full story: http://www.coconutsb...ed-in-bang-rak/

-- COCONUTS Bangkok 2013-02-14

[Zolt]

Thai law does not recognize same-sex marriage. Despite being one of the most tolerant countries for LGBT, Thai law and it's politicians are very out of sync with their own country.

[Chao Lao Beach]

What ever your belief is, it does n't matter, but surely a brown envelope full of money could have fixed his issue? It seems to fix cold blooded pre-mediated murder !!

[Bluespunk]

Maybe if they clean yingluck's carpet she'll change the law.

[bigbamboo]

KY doesn't do marriage.

[Pimay1]

Give me a frigging break.

[SABloke]

I have nothing against same-sex marriages, but Thai law does. Seems a bit infintile that these women (knowing the law) even bothered to go to Bang Rak. Surely the could just skip that step (since it's futile) and directly petition the PM's office. Get a few signatures and what not.

[Kananga]

They should have gone to her tanin stained deputy. Got him to announce that its not same sex if its on Valentines day. The same way police extorting money isnt a bribe if its Chinese New Year.

[PB1]

So if a LGTG couple wanted to have their wedding in Thailand it wouldn't be allowed even though they where to pump vast amounts of foriegn currency into the economy?

Hire of 5 star venue, band, guest rooms, catering etc

[lemoncake]

Pallawee and Rungtiwa said they would file a complaint with the House of Representatives and meet with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to discuss the issue.

no doubt they(Pallawee and Rungtiwa) would WANT to meet the PM, but would the PM meet with them?!

[lemoncake]

Maybe if they clean yingluck's carpet she'll change the law.

how do you know she has a carpet? may be its polished flooring

[webfact]

VALENTINE'S DAY

Same-sex couples call for marriage rights

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Valentine's Day yesterday saw lovebirds register their unions at district offices, especially those with "lucky" names such as Bangkok's Bang Rak ("Village of Love"). Same-sex couples who showed up only to be turned down, as such unions aren't recognised by Thai law, called for legal amendments to allow gay marriage.

For the 2,666 couples married in Bangkok on Valentine's Day last year, Bang Rak district was the most popular location, with 903 couples - compared to a normal daily rate of 30 pairs. Bang Rak yesterday continued its tradition of offering special treats for the occasion, handing out 12 "gold" marriage certificates, each worth Bt9,000, and other prizes via lucky draws. Office director Seuchana Sudcharoen expected to wed 1,000 couples by the day's end. The first couple to win a "gold" certificate plus a Bt1-million life-insurance policy was Pol Captain Chukiat Jongsomboon, 35, and Janthima Thidawan, 21, who have a son.

Among the couples seeking a legal union was same-sex couple Pallawee Jongtangsatchatham, 32, and Rungthiwa Kankanopas, 47, who have been together for nine years. But the couple was turned down by officials, who said the law doesn't allow for such matrimony.

Rungthiwa told The Nation, " prepared my mind [to be denied] the right. But I could never prepare my heart to accept it." Rungthiwa said she wanted the same legal right to leave her inheritance to her spouse as any other husband or wife. They said they would ask Parliament and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to amend the law to allow same-sex marriage.

Sexual Diversity Network members were also at the event venue, the CAT Telecom building, to call for legalisation of same-sex marriage, so as not to deny them important legal rights such as family health insurance and inheritance rights. Anjaree Foundation founder Anjana Suvarnnanond said many same-sex couples took care of each other and lived together for life, but their unions weren't recognised by law.

"We have to keep providing information to the public," said Chumaporn Tangkliang, a key member of the network, which represents lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.

The House of Representatives is considering a draft bill to recognise legal rights for same-sex couples, but Chumaporn said there were details that the network disagreed with, such as the need to have a psychological examination before a couple is allowed to marry.

As the media continue to portray LGBT people as abnormal, Chumaporn said, the issue needs to be confronted and rectified.

In the evening, Bang Rak district announced that 548 couples had registered their marriage.

In Chiang Mai's Muang district office, three same-sex couples, led by the M-Plus Chiang Mai Foundation, sought marriage, but officials said they could only file a marriage request, pending changes in the law. The foundation also submitted a statement to Deputy Governor Adisorn Kamnerdsiri calling for equal marriage rights.

Elsewhere, couples wed at places commonly associated with happy unions. Uttaradit's Laplae district office is popular because legend has it that the ancient city of Laplae prohibited lies, and couples who marry there wish for unions free of secrets and deception.

In Surat Thani's Punpin district, Democrat MP Suthep Thaugsuban's son Thae Thaugsuban and wife Thichakorn Kanchanakaew were among nine couples married at a ceremony hosted by the province's railway authority.

-- The Nation 2013-02-15

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

“The Prime Minister should understand the issue as she shares the same sex with us,” they said

That certainly could be an interesting encounter... Sharing is caring.

[Fgis]

I wonder for how long this retarded culture country as well as all the other ones (not the Muslim ones, they don't even exist for me) will deny same sex people to marry !

[OzMick]

Failed to be married? I should have been so lucky.

[Dap]

What ever your belief is, it does n't matter, but surely a brown envelope full of money could have fixed his issue? It seems to fix cold blooded pre-mediated murder !!

Problem is ... "cold-blooded, pre-meditated murder" is on the books and therefore would seemingly have a "price", whereas same-sex marriage isn't. I don't think that oft-used "brown envelope" could overcome the newsworthyness of the 1st sams-sex marriage in the kingdom. Heads might roll on that one, eh?

Edited February 15, 2013 by Dap

[JemJem]

I think that Thailand will sooner or later have same-sex marriage (or at least civil unions).

Most countries will sooner or later have either same-sex marriage or civil unions, I think. The ones that sadly will never have either one will be Muslim-majority countries (maybe with the exception of Bosnia) and Orthodox Christian-majority countries (maybe with the exception of Greece) and some Roman Catholic-majority countries like the Philippines.

Edited February 15, 2013 by JemJem

[tombkk]

So if a LGTG couple wanted to have their wedding in Thailand it wouldn't be allowed even though they where to pump vast amounts of foriegn currency into the economy?

Hire of 5 star venue, band, guest rooms, catering etc

Sure you can do all that. Gay couples get married by Buddhist monks in Thailand all the time.

It just won't be legally recognized.

[PB1]

So if a LGTG couple wanted to have their wedding in Thailand it wouldn't be allowed even though they where to pump vast amounts of foriegn currency into the economy?

Hire of 5 star venue, band, guest rooms, catering etc

Sure you can do all that. Gay couples get married by Buddhist monks in Thailand all the time.

It just won't be legally recognized.

Let's hope the law changes .

[tombkk]

So if a LGTG couple wanted to have their wedding in Thailand it wouldn't be allowed even though they where to pump vast amounts of foriegn currency into the economy?

Hire of 5 star venue, band, guest rooms, catering etc

Sure you can do all that. Gay couples get married by Buddhist monks in Thailand all the time.

It just won't be legally recognized.

Let's hope the law changes .

Absolutely. But I don't expect that to happen overnight, or within this year.

[Puccini]

I have nothing against same-sex marriages, but Thai law does. Seems a bit infintile that these women (knowing the law) even bothered to go to Bang Rak. Surely the could just skip that step (since it's futile) and directly petition the PM's office. Get a few signatures and what not.

These two publicity seekers waisted the public officials' time on their busiest day of the year.

[Jingthing]

I have nothing against same-sex marriages, but Thai law does. Seems a bit infintile that these women (knowing the law) even bothered to go to Bang Rak. Surely the could just skip that step (since it's futile) and directly petition the PM's office. Get a few signatures and what not.

These two publicity seekers waisted the public officials' time on their busiest day of the year.

It's called a political PROTEST. That was the best time to do it. Congrats to the awakening gay civil rights movement in Thailand.

[Puccini]

Rubbish. It was nothing but a publicity stunt. They knew exactly that nothing at all would come from it on the political front. Two silly, stupid, publicity seeking women is what they are.

[Curt1591]

I don't know socio-economic issues Thailand. But, in the USA same-sex marriage is presented as a "love" issue.

The reality is that it has nothing to do with "love". People can "love" whoever they want. The issue is about money. Spouses receive entitlements and other benefits.

Now, it is nice to want to care for those you love. But, in a bankrupt economy, no one needs more expenditures.

[Jingthing]

Rubbish. It was nothing but a publicity stunt. They knew exactly that nothing at all would come from it on the political front. Two silly, stupid, publicity seeking women is what they are.

You might say the same thing about Rosa Parks.

[cup-O-coffee]

So? They can't get married. Does that keep them from living together and doing the same things they wouldn't or couldn't do otherwise? What's marriage got to do with it? Shut up, move on, enjoy life, and quit trying to shove your lifestyle down the throats of people who are trying to respect it, but aren't getting the opportunity to do so with all your carrying on. You should be thankful that the government does not interfere in your life together the way it does in other countries. You should be thankful that merely living together and engaging in lesbian behavior doesn't get you put to death or thrown in prison. Just enjoy the time you both have together while on this planet and leave it be. Many heterosexual couples do, and it doesn't seem to bother them. If your love isn't a strong enough bond between the two of you, and a public announcement is more important then I would say that the sincerity of your claim is for attention and nothing more.

Edited February 25, 2013 by cup-O-coffee

[Jingthing]

You might have said Rosa Parks could have reached her destination anyway being forced to always sit in the BACK of the bus ...

[OzMick]

Having been married twice, I can confirm that a second marriage is the ultimate triumph of wishful thinking over past experience.

To anybody contemplating marriage to a Thai national, I can only wave my arms and say "DANGER WILL ROBINSON, DANGER".

BTW After ~7 years (who remembers dates?) of living in a very happy de facto relationship with a lady who knows I have few assets, without having to shell out for wedding costs and without giving her a licence to steal everything not bolted down (and a few things that were), I can heartily recommend it. Quit while you are in front.

[chiangmaikelly]

Having been married twice, I can confirm that a second marriage is the ultimate triumph of wishful thinking over past experience.

To anybody contemplating marriage to a Thai national, I can only wave my arms and say "DANGER WILL ROBINSON, DANGER".

BTW After ~7 years (who remembers dates?) of living in a very happy de facto relationship with a lady who knows I have few assets, without having to shell out for wedding costs and without giving her a licence to steal everything not bolted down (and a few things that were), I can heartily recommend it. Quit while you are in front.

So are you now married to a Thai and if so don't you want to change the danger danger to happy happy?

[Pimay1]

Having been married twice, I can confirm that a second marriage is the ultimate triumph of wishful thinking over past experience.

To anybody contemplating marriage to a Thai national, I can only wave my arms and say "DANGER WILL ROBINSON, DANGER".

BTW After ~7 years (who remembers dates?) of living in a very happy de facto relationship with a lady who knows I have few assets, without having to shell out for wedding costs and without giving her a licence to steal everything not bolted down (and a few things that were), I can heartily recommend it. Quit while you are in front.

I'm with you on this one MIck. When I came here in 1994 I was like a lot of guys on their first visit. My brain was not in my head and after a while I proved P.T Barnum's statement was correct. Hooked up with this little dumpling, all true love and so forth. Well after a while it was as you said, a license to steal everything not bolted down.

I decided to try and find someone that had the same mindset as me as in you take care of me and I'll take care of you. No new houses, land, sick buffalo bullshit. I did. She was a grandmother and her husband died a few years earlier. I'm an old fart and so is she but we are happy. Marriage was never brought up and won't be. I know I refer to her in my posts as my old gf but just in jest. No offence intended.