Asian gay rights
The Gay Asian Activist Whose Theories on Sexuality Were Decades Ahead of Their Time
LGBTQ+ Pride
A Smithsonian magazine special report
In the 1930s, Li Shiu Tong’s boyfriend/girlfriend, Magnus Hirschfeld, was a prominent defender of male lover people. But Li’s have research has long been overlooked
Historians are rediscovering one of the most significant LGBTQ activists of the early 20th century—an Asian Canadian named Li Shiu Tong. You probably don’t know the name, but he was at the center of the first wave of gay politics.
Much has been written about Li’s older boyfriend, Magnus Hirschfeld. He was a closeted German doctor and sexologist who became celebrated in the 1930s as a defender of queer people. In books on Hirschfeld, Li is usually just a footnote.
But as I found in my research, Li was a sexologist and activist in his own right. And in my view, his ideas about sexuality talk to our moment improve than his much more well-known boyfriend’s do.
When Li died in Vancouver in 1993, his unpublished manuscript about sexuality was thrown in the trash. Luckily, it was rescued by a curious neighbor and eventually ended up in an archive. Since then, only a handful of people, myself inc
Asia
State
Domestic law[*]
Penalty
Ratified International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)[†]
Ratified Optional Protocol to ICCPR[†]
Bangladesh
“Whoever voluntary has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with man, woman, or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to 10 years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Explanation: Penetration is sufficient to constitute the carnal intercourse necessary to the offence described in this section.”
6 Sep 2000
–
Brunei
“Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman, or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may expand to 10 years, and shall also be liable to fine. [S 12/97]
Explanation: Penetration is sufficient to constitute the carnal intercourse necessary to the offence describ
Marriage Equality Around the World
The Human Rights Campaign tracks developments in the legal recognition of same-sex marriage around the world. Working through a worldwide network of HRC global alumni and partners, we lift up the voices of community, national and regional advocates and share tools, resources, and lessons learned to allow movements for marriage equality.
Current State of Marriage Equality
There are currently 38 countries where same-sex marriage is legal: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Uruguay.
These countries have legalized marriage equality through both legislation and court decisions.
Countries that Legalized Marriage Equality in 2025
Liechtenstein: On May 16, 2024, Liechtenstein's government passed a bill in favor of marriage equality. The law went into effe
Thailand becomes first Southeast Asian country to allow lgbtq+ marriage
Thailand’s Senate has passed the marriage equality bill, paving the way for the country to turn into the first in Southeast Asia to recognise gay marriage.
The upper house on Tuesday approved the measure in its final reading – with 130 votes in favour from the 152 members in attendance. Four senators voted against and there were 18 abstentions.
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end of listThe legislation will now go to King Maha Vajiralongkorn for assent, a formality that is widely expected to be granted. It will come into force 120 days after it is published in the royal gazette.
Once the law takes effect, Thailand will become the third Asian jurisdiction after Nepal and Taiwan to legalise gay marriage.
LGBTQ advocates and human rights groups welcomed the bill’s passage.
“Thailand has taken a historic step towards becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize marriage fo
.