Thai LGBTQ+ activists celebrated another victory Tuesday after a marriage-equality bill overwhelmingly passed a first reading in the upper house, a key step bringing the country closer to becoming Asia’s third territory to legalize same-sex unions. “It’s like we’ve been embraced and accepted by the people in the entire country,” said Waaddao Chumaporn, 40, an LGBTQ+ activist and spokesperson for the parliamentary committee for the bill, calling it the “best gift of our lives.” “It sends a signal to the Southeast Asian region, where the fundamentals are deeply rooted in conservative views,” Waaddao said.