Hundreds of people began registering their marriages at a mall in Bangkok, as Thailand became one of the few places in Asia to legalize same-sex unions.

The enactment of the Marriage Equality Act makes Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia and the third in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage, after Taiwan and Nepal

Couples celebrated on Thursday as same-sex marriage came into effect in Thailand, the first country in Southeast Asia and the third in Asia to approve marriage equality, a milestone that will be celebrated with hundreds of weddings.

Hundreds of same-sex couples are expected to tie the knot across Thailand on Thursday as the country becomes the first in Southeast Asia to recognize marriage equality.

It means LGBT couples now have the same rights as any other couple - the culmination of a decades-long campaign.

A mass LGBTQ+ wedding in the capital, organized by campaign group Bangkok Pride with city authorities, expects hundreds of marriage registrations as the law comes into effect