Gays, lesbians urged to tie the knot underwater
TRANG – The world famous underwater wedding festival in Trang will welcome all couples, regardless of their sexual orientation, for the first time next Valentine‘s Day.
The Pattaya Daily News reports that Thailand’s world-famed underwater wedding festival will no longer be a straight-lace affair as of next Valentine’s Day, when all couples regardless of their sexual orientation, will be invited to join the annual event.
“We would like to extend an opportunity for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders to openly express their love,” said Wichat Rattamanee, chairman of the Trang Tourism Association. “This would attract more tourists to the southern province,” he said.
Trang, 670 kilometres south of Bangkok, has been staging offshore underwater weddings every Valentines’ Day since 1997 as a means of promoting tourism to the province, which rims the Andaman Sea. Next year’s event is scheduled for February 13 -15.
But the Thai ceremony will stop short of granting the mixed couples official marriage certificates, still not allowed under Thai law.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender couples will be given a certificate announcing that they are officially “lovers” instead.
Ian Jarrett
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