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Published on August 28, 2007

"I will not join the event. I will not support it," provincial culture chief Prayoon Noosuk said.

According to Prayoon, the underwater wedding event in Trang is part of the beautiful, traditional southern-style wedding. It is not appropriate to include same-sex couples.

"Have the organisers thought about the feelings of the older generation? What will they feel to see same-sex couples tying the knot? Will the younger generation finally see the same-sex marriage as something common?" Prayoon said.

Suntaree Sungayut, who heads the National Archives' Trang division in honour of Her Majesty the Queen Sirikit, said she empathised with homosexuals and respected them but felt their inclusion in the underwater wedding might not be in line with the event's objectives.

"When it was first held, the objective was about promoting the special culture of the southern region, especially the traditional style of local weddings," Suntaree said

She said if the organisers were going to change the objective, they should consider whether such move was necessary.

In response to the opposition, the Fahsiroong gay rights group's chairman Pongthorn Janluen said if same-sex marriages were against tradition, then the underwater wedding was as well.

"Our ancestors never held underwater weddings," he said, adding he would hold talks with homosexual networks at their meeting tomorrow on how to find a solution.

He insisted that homosexuals had the right to marry, just like others, and felt the opposition was a violation of their human rights.

Pongthorn said he had expected problems with the idea.

"The organisers failed to create an understanding among local people before they held the press conference," he said.

The press conference took place in Bangkok last Wednesday.

Wichai Rattamanee, chairman of the Trang Tourism Association, was present at the press conference alongside the event's organiser Natcha Voratanavanit.

Natcha yesterday said it was the duty of Trang Tourism Association and Trang Chamber of Commerce to explain to the local people.

"The presence of same-sex couples will in fact boost tourism in the province," she said, adding that many same-sex couples had contacted her to register for the underwater wedding since the press conference.

Wichai said couples, regardless of their sexual orientation, should be welcomed to the event alongside straight couples. "Love is so delicate," he said.

Salin Totabtiang of Trang Chamber of Commerce said the underwater wedding planned to include 10 same-sex couples only and all of them would be screened first.

Trang has long been recognised as the first place in the world to have couples sign their marriage registration certificates underwater. The event has entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest of its kind.

Methee Muangkaew,

Mayuree Sukyingcharoenwong

 The Nation