Thailand's parliament has moved closer to passing legislation that would make it the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriage.

Lawmakers deliberated in the lower house on Thursday. They managed to pass four bills drafted by the government, civil groups and opposition parties. The aim of the bills is to alter the words in a code from "husband and wife" to "marriage partners."

The drafts are expected to be combined into one. That single bill will formally become legislation, if it passes.

The country's prime minister welcomed the move. Srettha Thavisin stated that the first step towards change had begun. He noted that same-sex couples will have the same right to marry as men and women, if the bill becomes law.

The LGBTQ community in Thailand has been calling for same-sex marriage to be legalized for a long time. But previous attempts to pass marriage equality bills failed in parliament. This time the ruling Pheu Thai Party and the opposition Move Forward Party both support rights for same-sex couples.