“The two of us have proven that we truly love each other after more than 20 years,” Chakrit said. “We were ready to take care of each other from day one together. We are no different from heterosexual couples.”
While Chakrit’s parents were quick to accept their partnership, it took seven years for Prin’s parents to do so.
The couple also wanted to share the manufacturing business they ran together and other assets as a couple, so they asked Prynn’s parents to officially adopt Chakrit, giving him the same last name. Prin says the new law has brought much-needed legal clarity to them.
“For example, now if a same-sex couple buys something together — a large item — they can’t split ownership of it,” Prine said. “And one of us dies, what we both earned together cannot be passed on to the other. That’s why marriage equality is so important.”
Today, Prine said, both parents treat them as they treat other married children.
And when they, like any couple, had problems in their relationship, their parents helped them.
“My dad even started reading gay magazines to understand me better. It was very sweet to see.”
Additional reporting by Lulu Luo, Pavina Ningbut and Rin Jirenuwat in Bangkok
