Despite its reputation as one of Asia's more tolerant countries, Thailand has only just acknowledged that homosexuality is not a mental disease, reports the Thai newspaper Nation.

The announcement comes after the Department of Mental Health issued a formal letter stating that homosexuality is neither a mental problem nor a disease, after lobbying by Anjaree, a leading lesbian and gay rights advocacy group. The move is also in line with a 1993 World Health Organisation decision.

Anjaree's research coordinator, Sulaiporn Chonwilai said the goal of the group's campaign is to help Thai society accept same-sex relationships.

Department director Prawate Tantipiwatanasakul admitted that the agency's move lags more than 30 years behind academic consensus. "It is simply a different sexual orientation," he told the paper.