Cambodia Welcomes Same-Sex Marriage, Gov’t Spokesman Says

[geovalin]

Khmer Times/Chea Takihiro

PHNOM PENH (Khmer Times) – Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan expressed support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Cambodia yesterday, responding to Nepal’s new constitution – which has been described as the first in Asia to enshrine protection for the rights of LGBT people.

He said Cambodia has already gone further. “Cambodian society does not discriminate against LGBT people. It is only individuals who do so,” he said. “No Cambodian laws discriminate against them, and nothing is banning them from loving each other or getting married,” he said.

The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) yesterday lauded Nepal’s constitutional protection of LGBT rights, but described Cambodia as a less welcoming country for LGBT people than Mr. Siphan did.

read more: http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/16143/cambodia-welcomes-same-sex-marriage--gov---t-spokesman-says/

[Brer Fox]

Next thing is that Cambodia will legalise paedophilia; if they haven't already.

[Jingthing]

So is same sex marriage actually officially legal in Cambodia, or not?

First I've heard of that if it is.

I am skeptical.

Anyway, if so, that could be a big deal in eventually influencing neighboring countries to legalize same sex marriage as well.

I see that the text says not banned. But does that really mean the same thing as fully legal? That's why I'm asking.

Edited September 25, 2015 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

Next thing is that Cambodia will legalise paedophilia; if they haven't already.

No connection to same sex marriage.

[Sheryl]

I think the situatiion is that there is nothing in the law about marriage that says the two parties have to be of the opposite sex. However I suspect that trying to register a marriage would be met with consternation on the part of civil administrative authorities unsure of what to do.

In Cambodia as in Thailand the cultural wedding ceremony and legal registration of marriage are entirely different events and having a wedding does not make you legally married.

Same sex couples can and do hold weddings in Cambodia. I haven't heard of any registering their marriages though.

The other thing to note is that registering a marriage in Cambodia if either spouse is foreign is a convoluted and bribe-heavy undertaking.