The Bhutan parliament has approved a bill that will decriminalize homosexuality on Thursday. Before making the monumental move, sections 213 and 214 of the kingdoms penal code made “unnatural sex” illegal, which many considered referenced the LGBTQ+ community.
Speaking to Reuters, Ugyen Wangdi, a lawmaker and chairperson for the joint panel stated: “Homosexuality will not be considered as unnatural sex now.” According to Wangdi, 63 out of the 69 members voted in favour of the progressive change to the code.
With both houses in agreement, the nation now looks to the King of Bhutan for final approval. Activist and director of the Rainbow Bhutan group Tashi Tsheten expressed his excitement for the historic move, stating: “I think the bill