Cambodia does not need same-sex marriage law, PM says

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has said the nation does not need a same-sex marriage law, local media reported on Thursday. Hun also called on citizens not to discriminate against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people. “We cannot create a law to allow for marriage of LGBT people and some countries are also facing controversy over this issue. “We also do not need to have such a law because we do not prevent same-sex relationships and we do not arrest LGBT people and put them in prison,” Hun Sen told the Khmer Times. No Asian country has legalised same-sex marriage, however Taiwan’s cabinet approved a draft bill that paves the way for the nation to potentially become the first in the region to recognise the rights of gay couples to marry. Ly Pisey, coordinator for Cambodian LGBT organisation Rainbow Community Kampuchea (RoCK), said that Hun Sen has remained consistent in his calls for families and the public not to discriminate against LGBT people. While RoCK supports laws that allow for same-sex marriage, full adoption rights, gender recognition and protection against discrimination for LGBT people. “We know that it can be possible but you cannot be rushing the law,” Pisey said. (dpa