Prof. Purachai Piumsombun said he thought that legalizing same-sex marriage would be a good thing, reported the Bangkok Post.

However, the Thai parliament is still quite far from approving such an idea, most observers think - Senator Montri Sinthawichai recently went on record calling homosexuality a "mental problem" - and it seems unlikely that this proposition will even make it into the form of a bill.

While it is not a policy statement, Prof. Piumsombun's comment was taken as a small but very clear gesture of support for gay and lesbian rights.

The leader of the lesbian Anjaree Group handed the Minister a note thanking him for his statement, and suggesting (perhaps prematurely) that she would understand if he was unable to have the notion made into law.