BANGKOK, Thailand — The most recent attempt to legalize Thailand’s burgeoning adult entertainment industry failed to clear its first reading in the Parliament’s lower chamber on Wednesday.
Sponsored by the progressive Move Forward Party, the bill aimed to decriminalize the Thai adult entertainment industry and its products, including pornographic materials and sex toys, the Bangkok Post reported.
The bill was introduced early last month by Bangkok MP Taopiphop Limjittrakorn, and sought to amend Section 287 of the Criminal Code, which explicitly bans adult materials.
“Under the proposed amendment, only certain kinds of pornographic materials would be banned, such as clips and/or images depicting sexual violence, rape and paedophilia,” the Post reported.
Individuals under 20 years old would also “be restricted from participating in the production of adult content.”
Move Forward MPs argued that banning the adult entertainment industry “was akin to restricting people’s freedom to choose their profession.”
MP Sorapa Sriprat added that “maintaining the current law means the country fails to accept reality and is a society built on hypocrisy and argued that the ban on sex toys forces some individuals to seek alternative ways to manage their sexual desires, which can sometimes lead to sexual violence,” the Post reported.
Bangkok MP Phantin Nuamjerm noted that adult content “is already widespread and should be legalized for better regulation” and to better ensure that minors are not exploited.
Dr. Cherdchai Tantisirin, a Pheu Thai Party MP, opposed the measure but noted that sex toys “may have medical benefits and suggested that a separate bill should be introduced to address this issue.”
As XBIZ reported, Thai police have continued arresting people over possession and distribution of sex toys, although even Thailand’s conservative Democrat Party has stated its intention to legalize them, appealing to health benefits beyond sexual pleasure.
The Democrat Party also noted that while sex toys are currently illegal in Thailand, they are being smuggled into the country due to easily observable demand.
Bangkok has several prominent “red light districts” that operate in a gray area based on the Thai police force’s arbitrary enforcement of the country’s repressive sex work and adult entertainment laws.
Main Image: One of Bangkok’s main “red light districts.”