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see : Also see: 1 Lesbian group plans campaign in schools To boost awareness and understanding 7/00 2 Open-minded discussion better than heated argument, seminar told 4/01 3 Thailand crowns Most Beautiful Gay Man in Miss Tiffany contest 4/01 4 Safe sex play staged in jail 3/01 5 The Crackdown on Gay Bars in Bangkok: 11/01 6 Thailand to turn out transsexual boxer film 11/01 7 Surgeon advocates for Thai transsexuals 12/01 8 Thai Sauna Owner Jailed for Procuring Sex 12/02 9 Carrying the flame at the Gay Games VI 11/02 10 Becoming visible at the Gay Games 11/02 11 Thailand’s new Deputy Interior Minister bans people under 18 from staying outside their homes after 10pm without their parents accompanying them 4/01 12 Campaign to combat prejudice--Gays and lesbians 'not mentally ill' 12/02 13 Editorial: Healthy attitudes toward homosexuals 12/02 14
A question of relationships Pink with pride at Chula University 12/02 16 Thai abbot seeks crackdown on gay monks 7/03 17 Utopia Announces 2003 Awards 10/03 18 Bangkok Gay parade draws thousands 11/03 Bangkok Post, Thailand (http://www.bangkokpost.com/ ) November 7, 2000 1 By Amornrat Mahitthirook Lesbian group Anjaree plans to launch an awareness campaign in schools to promote a better understanding of homosexuals in society. Chantarak Raksayu, the group's co-ordinator, said a better understanding >from teachers and parents would be a major step towards winning social acceptance for gays and lesbians. It is estimated that about 10% of the population, or about six million people, are homosexual. Ms Chantarak, better known as Meena among group members, was speaking at Lady Party 2000 on Saturday which drew more than 400 Thai and foreign lesbians, including actress Venus Meewan. However, Ms Chantarak also expressed concern the group might not receive the co-operation it needed from the educational institutes. "Homosexuals exist in every age group, but most of those who declare themselves homosexual are teenagers," she said. The women-only annual party was held from 1pm to midnight at the Hera Club, on Ratchadaphisek road. It was organised to raise funds to support the group's human rights work and this year's function featured something different. It started with the afternoon session from 1pm to 3pm which featured an exhibition about the group, video presentation and sale of products. From 7pm to midnight, it featured stage entertainment, a fancy dress contest, Miss Popular contest and dance with the highlight being a special show by The Derivative Duo from the US. Ms Chantarak said the group has been promoting human rights among male and female homosexuals through seminars. It receieves funding from the international NGO Astea, the Public Health Ministry and the general public. Ms Chantarak said a large number of female homosexuals in the North were found to be underprivileged. The Anjaree group, founded by Anchana Suwannanont and human rights activists in 1986, has more than 1,000 members nationwide but few want to be identified as lesbians. Amporn Boontan, a group member, said Anjaree was not seeking to promote homosexuality. "We are not encouraging homosexuality. What we are asking here is some understanding. "Are they wrong? They can contribute to society and can live happily like anybody else," she said. Thongdee Tom, (an assumed name) said she and her lover planned to spend the rest of their lives together. Ms Thongdee, 29, who is a government official, said their relationship was accepted by the families of both sides. "Love is a matter between two people, no matter what sex you are," she said. "Sexual preference shouldn't be used to judge anyone." Bangkok Post , Thailand (http://www.bangkokpost.com/) 14 April 2001 2 By Anjira Assavanonda Society should not get into a heated argument over homosexuality, because it has too little understanding of the issues involved, a psychiatrist said yesterday. Udomsilp Srisaengnam said people should be more open-minded and not allow emotions to sensationalise and cloud the issue. "Actually, a gay or lesbian is no different from us. They are just ordinary people who favour the same sex," he said. He was speaking at a seminar, "Homosexuality: different and inventive points of view". Interior Minister Purachai Piemsomboon stirred heated debate recently when he suggested gay couples should also be allowed to register their marriage. Chantalak Raksayoo, co-ordinator of Anjaree Group, said there was a long-standing social stigma against homosexuality in Thailand, and it made many gays afraid to come out of the closet. "Even many of our members do not dare to come out publicly," she said. "One of the lesbians who won the Miss Anjaree award at our Women's Night Party phoned me the next morning, saying she would like to kill herself because her photo had been published in the newspapers and she had been criticised by neighbours. "She asked society to reduce prejudice against homosexuals. There was nothing wrong with them. She was happy to love people of the same sex. Senator Montri Sinthawichai offered a different opinion. A child rights activist who has worked with many abused children, Mr Montri said homosexuality among children had become an aggravating problem and hard to control. Children were confused about "love" and "sex". "Many teenage girls who date the same sex do not really experience love. Sometimes it's all about sex and they become addicted to it," Mr Montri said. Many girls who were in the sex trade had become homosexuals. They try to have sex with other girls, and need more than one partner, he said. He believed most homosexuals had been scarred by some terrible experiences in their lives. There were three groups of homosexual children, he said. The first were those who had been abused by people close to them, such as being raped by their fathers. The second were children raised conservatively by parents who do not want them to date too soon. The third group were those who had tended to admire the same sex since they were young. "I don't think it's right for these children to become like this. These children have mental problems, and they should be given the choice of receiving treatment," said Mr Montri. Many children copied the homosexual behaviour of their friends, and become addicted. The situation was worrying because homosexuality was spreading from university to secondary and even primary school students. Mr Udomsilp said homosexual behaviour could be imprinted on children's minds if they experience it at a certain stage of their development. Trying to play down strong arguement in the forum, he said homosexuality was a delicate issue, and there was no agreement on the real causes. "Homosexuality has long existed in the world and there's no need to be serious about it. What must be discussed is whether a relationship can fit comfortably into society at the moment." Homosexuality was regarded worldwide as neither a disease, mental disorder nor emotional problem. There was no need for homosexuals to be treated, unless they had other complicated problems such as being depressed, suicidal or drug addicted. Agence France Presse (http://sg.news.yahoo.com/010401/1/lqt2.html) April 1, 2001 3 PATTAYA,
Thailand (AFP) In the annual contest fashioned after the Miss World beauty pageant, 51 contestants strutted their stuff in pursuit of the title and prizes including 100,000 baht (2,227 dollars) in cash and an 80,000 baht (1,781 dollars) diamond necklace. During his reign, 25-year-old Piyathida Sakulthai will travel to Los Angeles to represent Thailand at the Queen of the Universe contest, where two of his predecessors have won the title of Most Beautiful Gay Man on Earth. The pageant combined the shimmering dresses and poised strides of a beauty contest with demands for equal rights and protection for the "third sex" -- gays and transexuals. In the final round of the contest, ten finalists were questioned by a panel of judges and given 30 seconds to answer. One contestant, Pathomtrom Thanatat, a university student who won the second runner-up title, called on Thai authorities to ammend the law to protect gay rights, drawing cheers from the 1,000-strong audience. He said gays are not treated fairly by Thai courts, and that if gays were to file rape charges, they would be rejected by the court. Pathomtrom added that he is well aware of the treatment gays face at the hands of the law because he is the son of a police officer. Finalists fielded questions about how gays might be accepted by their families, society and themselves. The chairman of the contest, Seri Wongmonga, a prominent academic and publicist who openly declared himself gay years ago, said Piyathida won the contest on the merits of "his unique facial features and beautiful complexion." "The winner was not so outstanding during the question and answer, but the judges selected him as a winner for his beauty," he said. After his coronation, Piyathida said: "I am so glad to win this title. I won because I am confident." He also revealed that he had had a sex change a few years ago, but that it would not disqualify him from competing in Los Angeles for the Queen of the Universe title. The Miss Tiffany show organizers said that the contest was intended to promote greater understanding about homosexuality in families and society, not copycat homosexual behavior. Bangkok Post, Thailand (http://www.bangkokpost.com/ ) March 30, 2001 4 By Anjira Assavanonda In a bid to prevent the spread of HIV/Aids among prisoners, eight members of the Bangkok Gay Group staged a play for gay inmates yesterday on how to protect themselves from the virus. The show was performed at the Bangkok Remand Prison which houses around 7,000 male prisoners, including 100 gay and transvestite inmates. Pakorn Pimpthon, who led the cast, said the play reflected the group's dream of stopping HIV transmission across the world. The group also organises the annual Bangkok Gay Festival on Silom Road. The drama conveyed the message anyone contracting HIV should not spread it to others. It also promoted safe sex through the use of condoms. Mr Pakorn said one of his friends, an ex-inmate, told him many prisoners have sex together to ease stress. More than 50 gay prisoners were allowed to watch the show. "We just encouraged them to fight for their rights and prove they are not social burdens," Mr Pakorn said. The group said they were proud to help educate and advise gays on how to prevent HIV transmission. Cast member Tun Suphakul said he wanted the rights of gay people to be socially accepted. Mr Tun said he had an elder brother who died of Aids, after serving a one-and-a-half-year jail term. He said he did not understand why condoms are banned in prisons. The group earlier proposed to distribute condoms to the convicts, but the idea was later rejected. Mr Tun said: "The officials told us condoms are always banned since it would encourage some 'abnormal behaviour.' This reflects that homosexuality is unaccepted." The Bangkok Gay group also plans to perform the play at other venues, including Lumpini Park and juvenile detention centres.
Gais Sans Frontieres - Bangkok 5 Pierre
Tourneau POLICE ACTION On Monday, July 23rd, 2001, two plain-clothes police officers visited Dream Boy Bar, a gay host bar on Suriwong Road, close to the famous Patpong nightclub area, in the main business district of Bangkok. A large, well-run gay host bar has operated at this site for perhaps twenty years, with over 40 go-go boys. The result of the police visit was a quick change in the two nightly shows, held at 10:30 and 12:30. That night there would be no nudity. The big cock show and the sex show were cancelled. Go-go dancing continued. As before, a customer could pay the off-fee to the bar and have one of the hosts go with him. The incident
was unusual, but not very serious. The bar was not closed. No one was
arrested. Many customers would not have realized that anything had happened. Thaksin studied criminal justice in the United States, gaining a doctorate. He went into business and became a telecommunications multimillionaire. Purachai obtained a doctorate in criminology from Florida State University and, after heading security at the Police Academy, became a senior lecturer at the National Institute of Development Administration, subsequently becoming Dean of the Faculty of Political Science, and twice the Rector. Under his administration the Institute opened evening PhD courses and eight new campuses in the provinces. After 14 years at the Institute, he left in 1996 to become the running mate of Major General Chamlong Srimuang for Mayor of Bangkok. Chamlong,
a charismatic, strictly religious political activist, and former Mayor
of Bangkok, had formed the Palang Dharma Party and brought Thaksin into
its leadership. Neither Chamlong nor Purachai were elected in 1996.
Purachai then worked for two years for Shin Corporation, responsible
for research and development. In 1998 Purachai became Secretary-General
of Thaksin’s new Thai Rak Thai party, a position he continued to
hold after the election that brought the party to national power. Sanoh is
the leader of the Wang Nam Yen faction supported by around 70 Thai Rak
Thai members of Parliament, the largest faction within the party. Sanoh
publicly appealed to Prime Minister Thaksin to rein in Purachai. Purachai
said he would resign first. Thaksin, after suggesting he would moderate
the campaign, reversed himself and publicly endorsed the crackdown,
saying that it was his idea. Sanoh backed off. An effort by constituency
MPs to do a "report card" on various ministers, including
Purachai, was dropped. In Saphan Khwai there is a change. Bars there must close at 1 a.m. Some restrictions emerged for certain massage parlors and for the public sale of sex magazines. One host bar owner announced by email on November 10th, 2001, that things were "back to normal." He was anxious to reassure tourists.
Reuters November 28, 2001 6 BANGKOK Following the success of last year's "Iron Ladies," a film about a transvestite volleyball team, a Thai production company plans to make a film about a transsexual Thai kickboxing sensation. Thai record firm GMM Grammy Plc and Singapore-based Spicy Apple Films will begin co-production of "Beautiful Boxer" in mid 2002, Grammy said in a statement received on Wednesday. The action drama will be based on the real-life story of 20-year-old transsexual Parinya Charoenphol, who fought since the age of 12 to earn money for his sex change operation. "Believing he's a girl trapped in a boy's body since childhood, Parinya...sets out to master the most masculine and lethal sport of Thai boxing to achieve his ultimate goal of total femininity," the statement said. The shooting will be done in Thailand, Japan and Singapore with Thai, English and Japanese dialogue. Ekachai Uekrongtham, a Bangkok born Thai who founded Singapore-based theatre company ACTION Theatre, will be the producer and director of the film. "Satree Lek" or "Iron Ladies" was the second biggest grossing domestic film in Thai cinematic history and has played to packed houses in Asia. The film is based on the true story of a transvestite volleyball team from northern Thailand that sprang from obscurity to win the 1996 men's national volleyball championship. The movie started the first U.S. national run by a Thai film in about 30 cities, including New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles in September. Planet Out (http://www.planetout.com/pno/news/article.html?2001/12/24/4 ) December 24, 2001 7 One of the most popular sex-change surgeons in Thailand has urged the government to legally recognize the new gender of transsexuals, according to the Associated Press. Preecha Thiewanon, addressing a seminar last week on the behavior of men after sex changes, said that current Thai laws were unfair toward the transgendered. Men who become women are still considered men under the law, for example, and their marriages to other men are not legally sanctioned. Thiewanon
noted that at least 300 Thai transgender people are currently in marriages
that aren't legal. The surgeon has performed hundreds of sex-changed
[sic] operations, mostly on men becoming women. Thailand has become
popular as a destination for sex-change operations because of the low
cost compared to Western countries. The Nation, Bangkok, Thailand December 2002 8 A 26-year-old
Bangkok man has been sentenced to five months in prison for procuring
27 men for a gay sex party held at his property. The Nation, Bangkok Thailand http://www.nationmultimedia.com/page.news.php3?clid=12&theme=A&usrsess=1&id= 4297 November 17, 2002 9 Daniel Gawthrop, The Nation They may not have brought home the gold, but for Thailand's volleyball team at the sixth international Gay Games, a bronze medal will do just fine. After all, the Poison Guys - whose name is not a reference to the players' biting katoey wit - had never played a single game together and had only a few minutes to practice before their first match. Then, during one of the final games before the medal round, they were forced to continue with only five players after losing Singha Saijaidee to a hand injury. There was also the pressure of high expectation: as a gay volleyball team representing Thailand, the Poison Guys were instantly billed as the second coming of the "iron ladies" of Satree Lex. Among the Sydney residents and international visitors who had seen the smash hit film by Yongyooth Thongkongtoon, those who didn't mistake the Poison Guys for the former national champions from Lampang appeared to assume that this group of Thai volleyballers would be just as skilled and outrageous as their celluloid counterparts. "When we arrived at the airport, there were people who shouted out 'Satree Lex! Satree Lex!' when they saw the team," recalled one player's boyfriend. In fact, the Poison Guys were a loose assortment of acquaintances put together almost on a whim. "There were two of us from Bangkok, two from Pattaya, one from Frankfurt and one from Sydney - and the Sydney guy only joined us three days before the Games, when one of our other players could not come,"smiled captain Boonthiam Poovarak, who first thought of starting a team after playing with a group from Amsterdam at the gay Euro Games in Hanover last year. After opening the tournament with two losses and a win, the Poison Guys finally hit their stride on the third day of competition by winning all three of their matches. Along the way, they attracted legions of fans with their playful on-court preening and collective shrieks of "Oo-ee!!" following every big point. By mid-week, e-mailed photos of the team were plastered all over the bars in Pattaya's Boyztown, where Virat "Go" Tonchai and Anan Rompochee are known as two of the more flamboyant Jomtien beach volleyballers. Go's rabbit ears and Anan's fluttering eyelashes were a big hit in Sydney, where the crowds cheered on the Thais no matter who they were playing. The Poison
Guys only squeaked into the medal round after losing Singha, and the
odds did not look good against the much larger and physically imposing
Dallas players. But in the end, the Satree Lex philosophy of sanuk worked
its magic once again. "The Thai team decided that they wouldn't
win, so they would just relax and have fun," said Kevin Thohinang
of Bangkok. "I think the Poison Guys won because they didn't have
any stress. They just played on instinct. People loved them and laughed,
because they were very charming and delightful, whereas Dallas was just
trying to win." The Nation, November 17, 2002 44 Moo 10 Bang Na-Trat KM 4.5, Bang Na district, Bangkok 10260 Thailand (Fax 66-2-317-2071) http://www.nationmultimedia.com/page.news.php3?clid=12&theme=A&usrsess=1&id= 4296 10 Daniel Gawthrop, The Nation For 14 Thai athletes who travelled to Australia this month, the sixth international Gay Games offered valuable lessons about perseverance and pride. When Team Thailand's entrance was announced over the public address system at a crowded football stadium on November 2, there was an instant roar from the 40,000 who had gathered for the opening ceremonies of the sixth international Gay Games. There were only 14 athletes marching behind the Thai flag, their presence dwarfed by Western countries including Canada, which sent 380 participants from Vancouver alone. Thailand's conservative, white-and-blue track suits were ironically understated next to the high-cut, red satin shorts worn by the Team Singapore. But Thailand, seen by the rest of the world as the most gay-friendly country in Asia, was making its first official appearance at the Games, which this year marked its 20th anniversary. So the warm reception was not surprising. For the Thais marching into Aussie Stadium - some of whom had never set foot outside their own country - the impact of being greeted by wildly cheering crowds and then sitting through a spectacular show of Aboriginal dancing, a giant spewing volcano and 40,000 people singing "Happy Birthday" to pop star kd lang, was almost overwhelming. "It made me feel warm, happy, and very excited," said Pakpoom "Yuan" Pumeekiatisak, a third-year mass communications student at Chiang Mai University. "I never thought I would be part of a world class event like this. It's not very easy to find this feeling in Thailand." Everyone has their own reason for taking part in the Gay Games. For Yuan, 20, it was a chance to meet people from around the world. "If I didn't come here, I would never have met my friends from Mexico," he told The Nation over breakfast on Sydney's bustling Oxford Street. "It isn't just the sport and the culture that's important. It's the power of what we share in common." Yuan won a scholarship to attend the festival after penning a one-page essay that exemplified the Games philosophy of "Participation... Inclusion... Personal Best". He also submitted a mixed media collage for an art competition on Gay Games inspiration. For 28-year-old sprinter Anuchaa "Aud" Charoenrat of Bangkok, the Games offered a chance to honour his sister Eddy, who first inspired his interest in running. Back when they were teenagers in Ubon Ratchathani, Eddy was a champion high school sprinter for three years in a row. Aud adored his sister and was devastated when she died of Aids a few years ago. So when he first learned about the Gay Games, and found out they were coming to Sydney, he decided to enter two races and dedicate his effort to Eddy's memory. For both races, he wore a special shirt with a photo of his sister emblazoned on the back. Aud placed sixth in the 200 metre run and missed the medal round in the 100 metre event by only 0.02 of a second - close enough to guarantee a return to the next Gay Games. "I want to go to Montreal," he said, referring to Rendezvous 2006, which will be held in Canada's second largest city. "But I hope we can get a bigger team, more people, next time." Aud's not the only member of Team Thailand who wants a second chance. Kevin Thohinang, a 39-year-old furniture designer and event planner who entered the tennis competition, had to withdraw on the eve of the tournament when his left knee gave out. "Definitely, I will try to do something in Montreal - but I think it might be badminton or table tennis," laughed Kevin. "I didn't go to Sydney just to watch." As well as the bronze medal-winning volleyball team, Team Thailand included two women who placed fourth in the Over 45 category of ballroom dancing for Latin routines of cha-cha-cha, samba and rumba; a Thai resident of Sydney who represented the Kingdom in billiards; and an Australian citizen, David Curtin, who played tennis. Curtin, who lived in Thailand for many years, was proud to play for the Kingdom and made some of the crucial e-mail queries that allowed Team Thailand members to march together in opening ceremonies. Thailand's presence at the Gay Games, along with that of several other countries from the region, raises the question: could the Games ever be held in a Far East Asian city? And if so, wouldn't the logical first choice be Bangkok? Yuan would love to see that happen, but he's sceptical. "There are thousands of lesbians and gays in Thailand, but fewer than 20 people at these Games," he said. "First we need more acceptance in Thai society, for people to see us as normal. Then, for the Gay Games to happen in Bangkok, the government would need to improve many things to assist participants. It's not just a social event, after all - it's a kind of Olympics." In Kevin's view, infrastructure won't be such a problem: in the next eight to 12 years, he argues, there will be enough venues and a broad enough transportation network to accommodate 14,000 athletes without traffic being a problem. But
Thailand's lack of a discernible gay culture might leave a vacuum
in terms of the human resources required to stage such an event. "When
it comes down to the organisation, the people who step into the front
line to make it happen, that might be difficult," he says. "For
something like this, the Europeans and North Americans can do it better."
. Daniel Gawthrop played centre and left wing for the bronze medal-winning
ice hockey team, the Vancouver Cutting Edges, at the Sydney Gay Games.
Bangkok
Post 11 While Mr Wanmuhamadnoor Matha has been appointed the new Interior Minister in October, Mr Pracha has been assigned to take over the year-old social order campaign started by the former Interior Minister Dr Purachai Piemsomboon who is now the Justice Minister. Mr Pracha is said to crack whip even harder than Dr Purachai, who is famed for starting a campaign cracking down on drugs, vice, banning anyone under 20 from entry, prohibiting the sale of alcohol after midnight and implementing the 2am closing time for nightclubs and bars. Mr Pracha believed the law would give the Interior Ministry's social order policy more bite as it would discourage them all the more to go out at night and added that the youths should stay at home and help their parents with housework or use their precious time to study rather than dancing, drinking and hanging out in entertainment venues. Since his
appointment, several karaoke bars and massage parlours had been shut
for operating without a licence after he imposed a Strike 3 policy
to revoke the operating licenses from establishments that persist in
breaking the rules. Many who lobbied for Dr Purachai’s removal
are probably regretting their involvement as the new interior minister
has been springing surprise visits on nightspots. A typical scene at
a male go-go bar Last week, the governors of Lopburi and Pathum Thani
provinces were chided for not turning up after they were informed of
the 3am raids conducted unannounced by Mr Pracha at nightspots under
their jurisdiction. While crackdown was not gay specific, gay go-go bars, saunas and dance clubs including DJ Station, which had been ordered to close for a few weeks last year as a result of a police raid, have seen their share of police raids for drugs and underaged patrons in recent weeks. Sceptics,
including ordinary citizens who thought the social order campaign started
by Dr Purachai a year ago was a non-starter now have second thoughts.
While critics are concerned that the rigidly enforced code will seriously
affect the incomes of tourist-industry workers and the tourism industry
as a whole, Dr Purachai dismissed their concerns saying that tourists
were more interested in Thailand's natural beauty than its nightlife
and believes the long-term benefits will outweigh the short-term costs.
Currently, according to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Bangkok
alone has an estimated 3,000 registered nightspots, although some newspaper
reports say that if unregistered ones are included, the number could
be as high as 8,000. Bangkok Post, Bangkok, Thailand ( http://www.bangkokpost.com/ ) http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/24Dec2002_news11.html 24 December 2002 12 Anjira Assavanonda Homosexual rights advocacy groups yesterday started a campaign calling on society to stop labelling lesbians and gays as people with mental problems. To make the campaign more convincing, the groups presented to the public an academic certification issued by the Mental Health Department in January this year, confirming that a homosexual person is neither mentally ill nor has any disease. The document was issued in response to a request by Anjaree, an advocacy group for the rights of homosexuals. In the certification, the Mental Health Department says it will comply with the World Health Organisation's diseases classification that removes "same-sex relationships" from the list of mental disorders. This was seen as the first concrete step by the state to support the existence of homosexuals in society and to stem social prejudice and discrimination against them. The campaign, which started with a seminar yesterday, is aimed at increasing public understanding of homosexual groups so that they can live happily and openly in society. Sulaiporn Chonvilai, coordinator of Anjaree's research project, said a lot of homosexual people suffered from social prejudices. "Homosexuals are often viewed as persons with mental or sexual disorders, as promiscuous and sex-obsessed, and fond of violence. All this is a misunderstanding," Ms Sulaiporn said. Many lesbians had phoned in or written to the Anjaree group about their troubles. Their problems
involved love relationships, feelings of isolation because nobody understood
them, confusion about whether they were homosexual or not, and rejection
by their families. "Actually, Anjaree Group is not a professional
counsellor, but those people had no-one else to turn to. Some of them
used to ask for advice from hot-line staff but the response they received
was discouraging. Some counsellors told them to change or go for mental
treatment," Ms Sulaiporn said. Dr Sukamol Vipaveepolakul, renowned
psychiatrist and sex counsellor, said the negative perception about
homosexuality had been influenced by the media. Peter
Jackson, a researcher from the National University of Australia,
said the government announcement to remove "same-sex relationship"
from the list of mental disorders was a crucial step toward a positive
change in society. In Australia, where steps to remove the stigma were
launched 20 years ago, there had been much progress. The media had been
more careful in using homosexual-related terms.
December 27, 2002 13 Gay men and lesbian women struggling to find a way to break the news to their parents about their sexual orientation may find it a little easier to do so by referring to the Mental Health Department's recent statement confirming that it is not unhealthy to be in same-sex relationships. In response to a request by a female homosexual group, Anjaree, the Mental Health Department issued a statement certifying that homosexual people do not suffer from a mental aberration and that they should be treated as normal. The Mental Health Department refers to the widely-used listing of mental disorders - the World Health Organisation's International Classification of Diseases 10th edition (ICD-10) - which no longer counts homosexuality among mental disorders. Such an official pronouncement by the Mental Health Department should clear the air in the public debate about the need to do away with social sanctions against people on the grounds of a different sexual orientation. Although Thai society in general has shown remarkable tolerance toward male-male and female-female relationships, the heterosexual majority continue to stigmatise homosexual men and women. Unlike the homophobia that is common in much of the rest of the world, anti-homosexual sentiment in Thai society is relatively low key. Thanks to sustained efforts by homosexual groups to promote a better understanding about their sexuality and the support these groups provide for individual homosexual men and women, the situation has improved considerably in recent years. Homosexual men and women are becoming increasingly more visible in Thai society in all occupational and professional groups, although many more in same-sex relationships choose to keep their private lives under wraps. Most heterosexual people have learned to become more sensitive and develop subtle ways in dealing with homosexual people without being patronising. Among homosexuals, some are content to stay "in the closet" while others have little or no inhibitions about openly displaying their different sexual orientation through their mannerisms or the way they dress. Organised homophobic practices or hate crimes against homosexuals are rare although misconceptions, myths and stereotyped views about homosexual men and women continue to be perpetuated by some quarters in the mass media. Most people find they are capable of tolerating homosexuality in their colleagues at work, in their personal friends and acquaintances, but are much less tolerant when it comes to homosexuality in their own families. One sensitive
area of concern for many parents is whether their children's sexual
inclinations can be influenced by other homosexuals or whether homosexual
tendencies are biologically programmed from birth. These parental
concerns are legitimate. Professional counselling services must be made
available to young people who have doubts about their sexual orientation
so that those who choose to follow a homosexual path can lead fulfilling
personal lives - just like heterosexual teenagers may also need guidance
on how to lead fulfilling relationships. The move toward more sensitivity,
compassion and understanding about homosexuality should not be too difficult
given the fact that Thailand is already one of the few cultures that
displays much less homophobia than the great majority.
December 17, 2002 44 Moo 10 Bang Na-Trat KM 4.5, Bang Na district, Bangkok 10260 Thailand (Fax 66-2-317-2071) http://www.nationmultimedia.com/page.news.php3?clid=12&theme=A&usrsess=1&id= 6025 14 Mr Maygan It was only a few years ago, I was told, that lecturers at Chulalongkorn University were turning down students who proposed doing research on any topic related to homosexuality. "My lecturer told me it was definitely not appropriate," a graduate student lamented. I couldn't help but think that the rejection was a result of either Chula's conservative policy or, perhaps, the lecturers' own homophobia. I kept thinking that if the policy against homosexuality existed in one of the country's most revered academic institutions, then they should consider changing their symbolic colour of pink: this is the colour that represents my queer family, so I would no longer be confused that the pink at Chula also means gay-friendly. Meanwhile, on the banks of the Chao Phya, Chula's counterpart Thammasat University recently made a big buzz in some newspapers. From now on, male students who prefer to do so will be allowed to dress in female uniforms. Now that's progress: I was sure this news would come as a big relief for many transsexual or transvestite students to be themselves, right down to their appearance. Of course, such permissiveness would be unheard of at Chula, where traditionally the school is famous for being very strict about its dress code. But things must be changing. Recently I visited Chula to see for myself. Wide-eyed and with heart pounding, I could not believe my eyes: more than a couple of men were caressing and kissing there. Well, at least onscreen they were: sitting in the huge campus auditorium, I was one of several students watching the award-winning Hong Kong movie "Bishonen". The screening was part of the Chula Academics Fair 2002, organised by the philosophy students at CU's Arts Faculty. I probably shouldn't mention this, but it's a fact that needs to be reported: Chula philosophy students, apart from being intelligent, are, ahem, adorable. Well, back to the movie. "Bishonen", supposedly meaning "beauty", is about love, romance, and the sex lives of four gorgeous men. The lead sexy character, Jet (Stephen Fung) is a call-boy who prefers to live day-by-day to make money. He finally changes his ways when he finds himself falling in love with a cop, Sam, played by the stunningly handsome Daniel Wu. Sam, however, is typical of any real-life character we would find in a homophobic society. While he has been sleeping with men, he can not get over his own internalised homophobia and never comes out to his loving parents. When his father catches him making love with Jet, Sam blames himself for disappointing his father. It is indeed overwhelmingly romantic and tragic to see how these men struggle with their relationships, including the father and Sam, and ultimately find real meaning in their lives. However, I was less interested in the film than I was in the relationships of things and people behind the screening itself. Many questions were popping up. "How was this gay movie even selected in the first place?" "How could this be possible at Chula?" "Who was the courageous one to pick the film and (in what must have been the case) fight for it to be included in the programme?" I talked to one of the team members behind the screening. He said the attitude towards gays was somehow changing at Chula. Since the programme was for academic purposes, the committee agreed to screen the film without any censorship, despite one juicy scene of two men making love in a shower. If I was not mistaken, it was just a year or so ago that Chula was banning such gay movies. One thing worth mentioning is that about 70 per cent of the audience was female students. They paid lots of attention. I heard no one talking. Some gasped from time to time whenever the actors kissed or appeared to be making love. At the end of the show, there was a discussion with a guy named Suwit. I didn't know who he really was - a hair dresser or a designer, perhaps? (His hair and dress were totally trendy.) He talked about coming out to his parents and how he was accepted by his family and friends. He shared many good insights, with open-mindedness toward both homosexuals and heterosexuals. As I strolled
off the campus on that breezy evening after sunset, somewhere in the
corner of my mind I knew that Chula had finally come out. The Nation, Bangkok,Thailand (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/page.news.php3?clid=2&theme=A&usrsess=1&id=1 0249 ) March 8, 2003 15 Phuket has ambitions to become a regional gay tourism and business centre, according to a gay community leader. "Phuket is probably one of the best gay destinations in the world, if you are looking for safety, sun, wonderful sandy beaches, a colourful gay community and a sparkling night life," says gay community president Punsak Saeng-chan. Punsak calls the Phuket Gay Festival, which began four years ago, "one of the most successful and talked-about gay events in the region", adding that is second in size only to Sydney's. Last year's festival generated around Bt30 million from tourism, Punsak says. "The reputation of the Phuket Gay Festival continues to improve every year, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand, with its resources, can help make the event more popular worldwide," he says. Anupap Theerarat, Southern Region director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, says the agency has given public-relations support to the event as it views gays as a tourism niche sector. "In past years, the festival has not been in bad taste and has not offended Thai culture and customs," he says. However, Punsak adds that in his view gay bars on Patong Beach's Soi Paradise might have reached saturation point, as there are already some 25 of them crammed together there. Opportunities are more favourable in other businesses, such as gay hotels, spas, and massage parlours, he says. Phuket has an approximately 3,000-strong gay community, according to Punsak, who adds that - although small - it's strong and cohesive, and is increasingly gaining local acceptance. "We have no gay mafia, as gays by nature do not like violence, and most come to Phuket and make it their home. They don't do illegal business and siphon off money back home," he says. Phuket is known for its gay cabarets, which are popular not only amongst the gay community but amongst straight travellers and Phuket working people, Punsak says. Reuters, http://www.sabcnews.com/world/asia1pacific/0,1009,61686,00.html July 4, 2003 16 A leading Buddhist monk in Thailand has called for rigorous screening of candidates seeking to don saffron robes because too many homosexual men were becoming monks, the Nation newspaper has reported. Phra Payom Kalayano said tighter screening was needed to prevent those with "sexual deviation" from becoming ordained. "Some homosexual monks have caused trouble in the temples," he told the English-language daily, estimating that 700 of Thailand's 300 000 monks were gay. Phra Khru Pimornsorakhun, secretary to Bangkok's monastic chief, said senior monks and abbots were looking into religious laws to see what measures could be taken. "We have so far been unable to reach a conclusion," he was quoted as saying. Ambiguity surrounds the whole issue of Buddhist monks and homosexuality and existing monastic legislation does not demand that gay monks should be barred. Before ordination, Buddhist monks are simply asked whether or not they are a man. About 90 % of Thailand's 62 million people are Buddhist. All monks are expected to refrain from sexual activity. PRESS RELEASE: Utopia Asia Tours Awards 17 19 October 2003 Bangkok--The 4th annual Utopia Awards, Asia's leading gay human rights celebration, are to be handed out in a festive evening on Friday, 14 November, at Bangkok's new Roxy Bar & Club. Utopia Awards are presented each year to men and women whose pioneering work and lives have forwarded the cause of dignity and a better life for members of the region's gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered communities. Previous awardees have included Thai AIDS activist Natee Teerarojjanapongs and film director Yongyuth Thongkongtoon; Indonesian and Singaporean activists Dede Oetomo and Alex Au; the Pink Triangle Foundation from Malaysia; and ProGay Philippines. Four individuals have been selected for recognition in 2003 and will be attending the public ceremony to receive their awards: Senator Jon Ungpakorn (Thailand) - for his pioneering chairmanship of the Access Foundation and his untiring use of his public position as an elected member of the Thai Senate to promote the political and public health rights of all Thai living with HIV/AIDS. Wang Ping (Taiwan) - for her persistence in keeping gay and lesbian rights at the forefront of public debate in Taiwan and for her inspiring leadership of Taiwan's premier women's and GLBT rights organization. Chung To (Hong Kong), for his leadership of the Chi Heng Foundation, a leading gay rights advocacy group in Hong Kong, and for his pioneering role in HIV/AIDS outreach programs in China. Parinya Jaroenphon (Thailand), whose inspiring story is to be told in the forthcoming film "Beautiful Boxer", for her exceptional courage and outspokenness for transgendered and gay people in Thailand. The Awards are open to the public, with cocktails from 8pm and the ceremony commencing at 9pm. Roxy Bar & Club is located in Silom Soi 4, the epicenter of Bangkok's famous Night Bazaar and entertainment district. The ceremony is timed to kick off the festive Bangkok Pride weekend, when hundreds of thousands of gays, lesbians, friends and onlookers attend the annual parade and parties celebrating Thailand's diversity and tolerance. This 4th annual Utopia Awards are presented by Utopia, the first and largest gay Internet portal in Asia, and co-sponsored by Roxy Bar & Club and Utopia Tours. Utopia's website is located at http://www.utopia-asia.com and more information about Utopia may be found at http://www.utopia-asia.com/utopiais.htm For more information, please contact Utopia at <info@utopia-asia.com>
November 17, 2003 18 By Yingyord Manchuvisith The Nation Bangkok's fifth annual Gay Pride Parade yesterday drew thousands of participants and spectators who lined the pavements along Silom and Surawong roads. Organisers said more than 10,000 people watched 10 floats representing gay and lesbian businesses and organisations parade by. The floats sported rainbow banners and slogans in Thai and English proclaiming gay pride as gay men and women dressed in cabaret and cowboy outfits danced to music. The crowds cheered and applauded as each float passed by. They came despite the traffic and lack of official support. Last year, the parade enjoyed the Sunday closing of Silom Road as part of the city's "Walking Street" programme, which ended on New Year's Day. This year, marchers had to share the road with cars and busses, as police from three districts directed traffic to keep anyone from being run over. To achieve their goal, the police led the parade on motorcycles, giving the appearance of police support. That didn't seem to bother the average cop on the beat, though. "My boss asked me to help out," said one policeman from Bang Rak district, who rode with a big smile on his face. The other districts providing police were Thung Mahamek and Pathum Wan. The event drew tourists from places as far away as Hong Kong and Australia. "I came last month because I thought it was in October," said Cordy from Hong Kong. "I didn't want to miss it so I came back again this weekend." "This is my second time here," said Peter A Jackson, a senior lecturer at the Australian National University. "With the street open for traffic, the taxis joined in the parade. The crowds had to be careful not to get hit by cars as they watched." Despite its potential to attract tourists, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has been slow to recognise the event, organisers said. The TAT spent two months pondering a request for support. "We asked them in mid-September and gave up a few days ago," said Ongart Chakardsongsak, special events chairperson for Bangkok Pride Coalition 2003. "They just never gave us an answer." After the Mardi Gras gay parade in Sydney, Bangkok's gay pride parade is considered the largest in the Asia-Pacific region. Taipei started its own parade this year, while Singapore is seen as gradually relaxing its negative stance towards homosexuality. Even the city-state's prime minister has made unexpectedly positive remarks about Singapore's gay population. "This pride parade has great economic potential," said Douglas Thompson, co-chairman of last year's Bangkok parade. "The TAT cannot ignore this parade's potential to draw millions of affluent visitors. Bangkok can grow and compete with Sydney's Mardi Gras." |
