Thousands of people gathered in the streets of Bangkok, Thailand to celebrate the beginning of the 25th edition of Pride Month on Saturday. Hosted by Bangkok Pride and Bangkok Municipal Administration, the parade takes place in some of the city’s business areas, namely Siam Centre and Rama I Road. Thai Prime Minister, Sretta Thavisin, also attended the event, and pledged the government’s support for the LGBTQIA+ community, “after successfully passing the marriage equality bill.”

Thailand is set to become the first Southeast Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage, by way of the marriage equality bill approved by its cabinet on November 21 last year. The bill is headed for its final reading in the country’s legislature this month. Senator Wallop Tangkananuruk, chairman of the Senate’s committee on same-sex marriage, has said that the bill is likely to pass on June 18. Provided there are no revisions, the law will be sent for royal approval and will come into force 120 days after being published in the Royal Gazette, following national procedure.

Prime Minister Thavisin, accompanied by other senior party members at the parade, also mentioned allowing members of LGBTQ+ to select their pronouns/titles on official documents, as per the honorifics in the Thai language system.

Since its first iteration in 1999, Bangkok’s pride celebration has received large amounts of support in the country, indicating growing support for the LGBTQIA+ community throughout the nation. The celebrations have also been endorsed by the government, as well as senior politicians and major conglomerates. Other regions in the country, such as Chiang Mai are also organizing their own Pride celebrations.