Bangkok: Predominantly Buddhist Thailand is moving to become the first Asian country to allow same-sex marriage.

The country of 65 million people has been at the forefront of the gay rights movements for decades despite the fact that sex between men remains illegal in most of its neighbouring countries.

Thailand decriminalised homosexuality in 1956 - before Britain and the United States - and has lifted bans on gays serving in the military, although homosexuality was deemed a mental illness in the country until 2002.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are widely accepted in Thai communities.

A parliamentary committee has drafted a landmark bill that will allow gay men and women who are at last 20 years old to enter into a civil partnership.