Thailand's traditional definition of a family - a father being a man and a mother a woman - remains in Thai legal codes, in spite of the passage of the marriage equality law. "Legally, they have no connection," Jacob said of his son and his husband Surapong, a civil servant who also goes by the nickname Keng.

Thai city Pattaya is preparing to register same-sex marriages as the country's Marriage Equality Act is set to come into effect next week. Bang Lamung District Chief Patcharaphat Srithanyanon said his office was ready to cater to LGBT couples who decide to register in the colourful tourist city.

It's a big week for LGBTQ+ couples in Thailand. On Thursday, they will be able to legally register their marriages, making it only the third place in Asia, after Taiwan and Nepal, where they have such a right.

Thailand took a historic step in 2024 by legalising same-sex marriage, but the legislation stops short of granting LGBTQ couples full parental rights. Same-sex couple Jacob Holder and Surapong 'Keng' Koonpaew struggle to build 'modern family' in Thailand.