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''Kathoey'' or ''katoey'' ( th, กะเทย; ) is an identity used by some people in Thailand, whose identities in English may be best described as transgender women in some cases, or effeminate gay men in other cases. Transgender women in Thailand mostly use terms other than when referring to themselves, such as ( th, ผู้หญิง, links=no, 'woman'). A significant number of
Thai people Thai people ( th, ชาวไทย; ''endonym''), Central Thai people ( th, คนภาคกลาง, sou, คนใต้, ตามโพร; ''exonym and also domestically'') or Siamese ( th, ชาวสยาม; ''historical exonym and ...
perceive ''kathoey'' as belonging to a separate sex, including some
transgender women A trans woman or a transgender woman is a woman who was assigned male at birth. Trans women have a female gender identity, may experience gender dysphoria, and may transition; this process commonly includes hormone replacement therapy and so ...
themselves.Winter, Sam (2003). Research and discussion paper: ''Language and identity in transgender: gender wars and the case of the Thai kathoey''. Paper presented at the Hawaii conference on Social Sciences, Waikiki, June 2003
Article online
.
In the face of the many sociopolitical obstacles that ' navigate in Thailand, ' activism has led to legal recognition as of January 2015.


Terminology

A study of 195 Thai transgender women found that most of the participants referred to themselves as ' ( 'women'), with a minority referring to themselves as ' ('second kind of woman') and only a very few referring to themselves as '. Related phrases include ' (, 'third sex'), and ' or ' (, —both meaning 'second-type female'). The word ' is of Khmer . It is most often rendered as ''ladyboy'' in English conversation, an expression that has become popular across Southeast Asia.


General description

Although ' is often translated as '
transgender woman A trans woman or a transgender woman is a woman who was assigned male at birth. Trans women have a female gender identity, may experience gender dysphoria, and may transition; this process commonly includes hormone replacement therapy and so ...
' in English, this term is not correct in Thailand. As well as transgender people, the term can refer to gay men, and was originally used to refer to intersex people. Before the 1960s, the use of ' included anyone who deviated from the dominant sexual norms. Because of this confusion in translation, the English translation of ' is usually 'ladyboy' (or variants of the term). Use of the term suggests that the person self-identifies as a type of male, in contrast to ' (which, like "trans woman", suggests a "female" (') identity), and in contrast to ' ('third sex'). The term '' song'', which can be translated as 'second-type female', is also used to refer to '. Australian scholar of sexual politics in Thailand Peter Jackson claims that the term ' was used in antiquity to refer to intersex people, and that the connotation changed in the mid-20th century to cover
cross-dressing Cross-dressing is the act of wearing clothes usually worn by a different gender. From as early as pre-modern history, cross-dressing has been practiced in order to disguise, comfort, entertain, and self-express oneself. Cross-dressing has play ...
males. ' became an iconic symbol of modern Thai culture.Winter, Sam. Queer Bangkok: Twenty-first Century Markets, Media, and Rights. Aberdeen, Hong Kong: Hong Kong U Press, 2011 The term can refer to males who exhibit varying degrees of femininity. Many dress as women and undergo "feminising" medical procedures such as
breast implant A breast implant is a prosthesis used to change the size, shape, and contour of a person's breast. In reconstructive plastic surgery, breast implants can be placed to restore a natural looking breast following a mastectomy, to correct congenital ...
s,
hormones A hormone (from the Greek participle , "setting in motion") is a class of signaling molecules in multicellular organisms that are sent to distant organs by complex biological processes to regulate physiology and behavior. Hormones are required fo ...
, silicone injections, or Adam's apple reductions. Others may wear make-up and use feminine pronouns, but dress as men, and are closer to the Western category of effeminate gay man than transgender. The term ' may be considered pejorative, especially in the form '. It has a meaning similar to the English language 'fairy' or 'queen'. ' can also be seen as a derogatory word for those who are gay.


Religion

Bunmi, a
Thai Buddhist Buddhism in Thailand is largely of the Theravada school, which is followed by 95 percent of the population. Thailand has the second largest Buddhist population in the world, after China, with approximately 64 million Buddhists. Buddhism in Tha ...
author, believes that homosexuality stems from "lower level spirits" (), a factor that is influenced by one's past life. Some Buddhists view ' as persons born with a disability as a consequence of past sins. Using the notion of
karma Karma (; sa, कर्म}, ; pi, kamma, italic=yes) in Sanskrit means an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences. In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of cause and effect, often descriptivel ...
, some Thais believe that being a ''kathoey'' is the result of transgressions in
past lives Reincarnation, also known as rebirth or transmigration, is the philosophical or religious concept that the non-physical essence of a living being begins a new life in a different physical form or body after biological death. Resurrection is a ...
, concluding that ''kathoey'' deserve pity rather than blame. Others, however, believe that ''kathoeys'' should rectify their past life transgressions. This is done through merit-making such as "making donations to a temple or by ordaining as monks".


Requirements to confirm eligibility for gender-affirming surgery

In 1965,
Johns Hopkins Hospital The Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH) is the teaching hospital and biomedical research facility of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, located in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. It was founded in 1889 using money from a bequest of over $7 million (1873 mo ...
in the US became the first institution to perform sex-reassignment surgery. Today, in cities such as Bangkok, there are two to three gender-affirming surgery (GAS) operations per week, more than 3,500 over the past thirty years. With the massive increase in GASs, there has also been an increase in prerequisites, measures that must be taken in order to be eligible for the operation. Patients must be at least 18 years old with permission from parents if under 20 years old.Duncan, Debbie. "Prerequisites - The Transgender Center." ''Prerequisites - The Transgender Center''. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 March 2017. One must provide evidence of diagnosis of gender
dysphoria Dysphoria (; ) is a profound state of unease or dissatisfaction. It is the semantic opposite of euphoria. In a psychiatric context, dysphoria may accompany depression, anxiety, or agitation. In psychiatry Intense states of distress and uneas ...
from a psychologist or psychiatrist. Before going through gender reassignment surgery, one must be on hormones/antiandrogens for at least one year. Patients must have a note from the psychiatrist or clinical psychologist. Two months prior to the surgery, patients are required to see a psychiatrist in Thailand to confirm eligibility for gender-affirming surgery.


Social context

''Kathoeys'' are more visible and more accepted in Thai culture than transgender people are in other countries in the world. Several popular Thai models, singers, and movie stars are ''kathoeys'', and Thai newspapers often print photographs of the winners of female and ''kathoey'' beauty contests side by side. The phenomenon is not restricted to urban areas; there are ''kathoeys'' in most villages, and ''kathoey'' beauty contests are commonly held as part of local fairs. A common stereotype is that older, well-off ''kathoey'' provide financial support to young men with whom they are in romantic relationships.Thailand
, in the ''
International Encyclopedia of Sexuality ''The International Encyclopedia of Sexuality'' is a four-volume reference work on human sexuality, organized by country. It is also available online. It was published between 1997 and 2001 and was edited by Robert T. Francoeur and Raymond J. Noo ...
'', Volume I–IV 1997–2001, edited by
Robert T. Francoeur Robert Thomas "Bob" Francoeur Ph.D., A.C.S. (October 18, 1931 – October 15, 2012) was an American biologist and sexologist. Life and career Francoeur was born on October 18, 1931, in Detroit, Michigan. He earned a B.A. in philosophy and Engli ...
''Kathoeys'' currently face many social and legal impediments. Families (and especially fathers) are typically disappointed if a child becomes a ''kathoey'', and ''kathoeys'' often have to face the prospect of disclosing their birth sex. However, ''kathoey'' generally have greater acceptance in Thailand than most other East Asian countries.. See also Céline Grünhagen: ''Transgender in Thailand: Buddhist Perspectives and the Socio-Political Status of Kathoeys.'' In: Gerhard Schreiber (ed.), ''Transsexuality in Theology and Neuroscience. Findings, Controversies, and Perspectives.'' De Gruyter, Berlin and Boston 2016, pp. 219–232. Problems can also arise in regards to access to amenities and gender allocation.


Employment

Many ''kathoey'' work in predominately female occupations, such as in shops, restaurants, and
beauty salon A beauty salon or beauty parlor is an establishment dealing with cosmetic treatments for people. Other variations of this type of business include hair salons, spas, day spas, and medical spas. Beauty treatments Massage for the body is a ...
s, but also in factories (a reflection of Thailand's high proportion of female industrial workers).Winter S, Udomsak N (2002)
Male, Female and Transgender: Stereotypes and Self in Thailand
. ''International Journal of Transgenderism''. 6,1
Discrimination in employment is rampant as many perceive ''kathoeys'' as having mental problems and refuse to hire them. For this reason, many ''kathoeys'' are only able to find work in sex and entertainment industries. These sorts of jobs include tourist centers, cabarets, and
sex work Sex work is "the exchange of sexual services, performances, or products for material compensation. It includes activities of direct physical contact between buyers and sellers as well as indirect sexual stimulation". Sex work only refers to volunt ...
. ''Kathoeys'' who work in the tourism sector must conform to a physical image that is preferred by tourists. ''Kathoeys'' who obtain jobs in the civil service sector are required to wear uniforms coinciding with their assigned sex of male.


Education

Many schools teach students that being transgender is wrong and a form of sexual deviancy. Thai schools utilize gendered uniforms as well. In 2015,
Bangkok University University (BU; th, มหาวิทยาลัยกรุงเทพ; ), commonly known as Mo Krung Thep ( th, มอกรุงเทพ), has operated since 1962, is one of the oldest and largest private, non-profit universities in ...
revised its uniform guidelines to allow transgender students to wear the uniform of their preferred gender, however, many other institutions still force transgender students to wear the uniform that matches their assigned sex.


Political context

Thailand's 2015 Gender Equality Act is currently the strongest legal tool for advocating for transgender rights. It protects those who are "of a different appearance from his/her own sex by birth" from unfair gender discrimination. Prior to the creation of the 2016 Thai constitution, people believed that anti-discrimination terms would be set for a new category called ' third gender'. This term, however, was missing from the new constitution and no protections for transgender people were specifically outlined. Instead, the constitution prohibited "unjust discrimination" based on differences in sex.


Identification documents

Legal recognition of ''kathoey''s and transgender people is nonexistent in Thailand: even if a transgender person has had sex reassignment surgery, they are not allowed to change their legal sex on their
identification documents An identity document (also called ID or colloquially as papers) is any document that may be used to prove a person's identity. If issued in a small, standard credit card size form, it is usually called an identity card (IC, ID card, citizen ca ...
. Identification documents are particularly important for daily life in Thailand as they facilitate communication with businesses, bureaucratic agencies (i.e., signing up for educational courses or medical care), law enforcement, etc. The primary identification form used in Thailand is The Thai National Identification Card, which is used for many important processes such as opening a bank account. The vast majority of transgender people are unable to change these documents to reflect their chosen gender, and those who are allowed must uphold strict standards. Transgender individuals are often accused of falsifying documents and are forced to show their identification documents. This threatens their safety and results in their exclusion from various institutions like education or housing. Impeded by these identity cards on a daily basis, transsexuals are "outed" by society. The criminal justice sector relies on identification cards when deciding where to detain individuals. This means that ''kathoeys'' are detained alongside men. By law, women are not allowed to be detained alongside men, and since ''kathoeys'' are not legally classified as women, they reside in the male section in prison. Within prison, ''kathoeys'' are forced to cut their hair and abide by strict rules governing gender expression. Additionally, they are denied access to
hormones A hormone (from the Greek participle , "setting in motion") is a class of signaling molecules in multicellular organisms that are sent to distant organs by complex biological processes to regulate physiology and behavior. Hormones are required fo ...
and other "transition-related health care".


Military draft

Transgender individuals were automatically exempted from compulsory military service in Thailand. ''Kathoeys'' were deemed to suffer from "mental illness" or "permanent mental disorder".Douglas Sanders. Queer Bangkok: twenty-first-century markets, media, and rights. Aberdeen, Hong Kong: Hong Kong U Press, 2011. Print. These mental disorders were required to appear on their military service documents, which are accessible to future employers. In 2006, the Thai
National Human Rights Commission A human rights commission, also known as a human relations commission, is a body set up to investigate, promote or protect human rights. The term may refer to international, national or subnational bodies set up for this purpose, such as nationa ...
(NHRC) overturned the use of discriminatory phraseology in Thailand's military service exemption documents. With Thai law banning citizens from changing their sex on their identification documents, everyone under the male category must attend a "lottery day" where they are randomly selected to enlist in the army for two years. In March 2008, the military added a "third category" for transgender people that dismissed them from service due to "illness that cannot be cured within 30 days". In 2012, the Administrative Court ruled that the Military and Defense needed to revise the reasoning for their exemption of ''kathoeys'' from the military. As such, ''kathoeys'' are now exempt from the military under the reasoning that their "gender does not match their sex at birth".


Performance


Representation in cinema

began to gain prominence in the
cinema of Thailand The cinema of Thailand dates back to the early days of filmmaking, when King Chulalongkorn's 1897 visit to Bern, Switzerland was recorded by François-Henri Lavancy-Clarke. The film was then brought to Bangkok, where it was exhibited. This sparke ...
during the late-1980s. The depiction at first was negative by showing suffering bad karma, suicide, and abandoned by straight lovers.Ünaldim Serhat. Queer Bangkok: twenty-first-century markets, media, and rights. Aberdeen, Hong Kong: Hong Kong U Press, 2011. Print. Independent and experimental films contributed to defying sexual norms in gay cinema in the 1990s. The 2000 film ''
The Iron Ladies ''The Iron Ladies'' ( th, สตรีเหล็ก or ''Satree lek'') is a 2000 Thai comedy film directed by Youngyooth Thongkonthun and written by Visuttchai Boonyakarnjawa and Jira Maligool. It was Thongkonthun's directorial debut. The ...
'', directed by
Yongyoot Thongkongtoon Yongyoot Thongkongtoon ( th, ยงยุทธ ทองกองทุน; born February 18, 1967) is a Thai film director, producer, and screenwriter. He made his debut in 2000 with the sports comedy ''The Iron Ladies''. Biography Yongyoot ...
, depicted a positive portrayal of an almost entirely volleyball team by displaying their confidence. The rising middle-class in Bangkok and vernacular queer culture made the mainstream portrayal of ''kathoeys'' more popular on television and in art house cinemas.


Miss Tiffany's Universe

Feminine beauty in Thailand allowed transgender people to have their own platform where they are able to challenge stereotypes and claim cultural recognition.
Miss Tiffany's Universe Miss Tiffany's Universe ( th, มิสทิฟฟานี่ยูนิเวิร์ส) now known as Miss Tiffany is a beauty pageant for Thai transgender women in Pattaya, Thailand. It has taken place annually since 1998. The winner will ...
is a beauty contest that is opened to all transgender women. Beginning in 1998, the pageant takes place every year in Pattaya, Thailand during May. With over 100 applicants, the pageant is considered to be one of the most popular transgender pageants in the world. Through beauty pageants, Thailand has been able to promote the country's cosmetic surgery industry, which has had a massive increase in
medical tourism Medical tourism refers to people traveling abroad to obtain medical treatment. In the past, this usually referred to those who traveled from less-developed countries to major medical centers in highly developed countries for treatment unavailable a ...
for sex reassignment surgery. According to the Miss Tiffany's Universe website, the live broadcast attracts record of fifteen million viewers. The winner of the pageant receives a tiara, sash, car, grand prize of 100,000
baht The baht (; th, บาท, ; currency sign, sign: ฿; ISO 4217, code: THB) is the official currency of Thailand. It is divided into 100 ''satang'' (, ). The issuance of currency is the responsibility of the Bank of Thailand. Society for Worldw ...
(US$3,000), equivalent to an annual wage for a Thai factory worker. The assistant manager director, Alisa Phanthusak, stated that the pageant wants to be visible and to treat them as normal.Yeung, Isobel. "Trans in Thailand (Part 1)." ''VICE Video''. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 April 2017. It is the biggest annual event in Pattaya. Transgender beauty contests are found in the countryside at village fairs or festivals. All-male revues are common in gay bars in
Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated populatio ...
and as drag shows in the tourist resort of Pattaya.


Recent developments

In 1993, Thailand's teacher training colleges implemented a semi-formal ban on allowing homosexual (which included ) students enrolling in courses leading to qualification for positions in kindergartens and primary schools. In January 1997, the Rajabhat Institutes (the governing body of the colleges) announced it would formalize the ban, which would extend to all campuses at the start of the 1997 academic year. The ban was quietly rescinded later in the year, following the replacement of the Minister of Education. In 1996, a volleyball team composed mostly of gays and , known as ''The Iron Ladies'' ( th, สตรีเหล็ก, ), later portrayed in two Thai movies, won the Thai national championship. The Thai government, concerned with the country's image, barred two of the from joining the national team and competing internationally. Among the most famous in Thailand is Nong Tum, a former champion Thai boxer who emerged into the public eye in 1998. She would present in a feminine manner and had commenced hormone therapy while still a popular boxer; she would enter the ring with long hair and make-up, occasionally kissing a defeated opponent. She announced her retirement from professional boxing in 1999 – undergoing genital reassignment surgery, while continuing to work as a coach, and taking up acting and modeling. She returned to boxing in 2006. In 2004, the Chiang Mai Technology School allocated a separate restroom for , with an intertwined male and female symbol on the door. The fifteen students are required to wear male clothing at school but are allowed to sport feminine hairdos. The restroom features four stalls, but no urinals. Following the 2006 Thai coup d'état, are hoping for a new third sex to be added to passports and other official documents in a proposed new constitution. In 2007, legislative efforts have begun to allow to change their legal sex if they have undergone genital reassignment surgery; this latter restriction was controversially discussed in the community.Are you man enough to be a woman? ''
Bangkok Post The ''Bangkok Post'' is an English-language daily newspaper published in Bangkok, Thailand. It is published in broadsheet and digital formats. The first issue was sold on 1 August 1946. It had four pages and cost one baht, a considerable amount ...
'', 1 October 2007
Bell Nuntita Nuntita Khampiranon ( th, นันทิตา ฆัมภิรานนท์; ; born December 20, 1983), or nickname Art (อาร์ต), stage name Bell (เบลล์) and usually known as Bell Nuntita, is a Thai transgender actress, si ...
, a contestant of the ''
Thailand's Got Talent ''Thailand's Got Talent'' ไทยแลนด์ก็อตทาเลนต์ (also known as ''TGT''), is a Thai reality television series on the television network, and part of the global British ''Got Talent'' series. It is a talent sho ...
'' TV show, became a YouTube hit when she first performed singing as a girl and then switched to a masculine voice. It is estimated that as many as six in every thousand native males later present themselves as transgender women or .


Advocacy


Activism

Thai activists have mobilized for over two decades to secure sexual diversity rights. Beauty pageant winner
Yollada Suanyot Yollada "Nok" Suanyot ( th, เกริกก้อง "นก" สวนยศ; birth name: Krirkkong Suanyos; born June 18, 1983) is a Thai politician and celebrity. On May 27, 2012, she was elected to represent Mueang Nan District on the Pr ...
, known as Nok, founded the Trans Female Association of Thailand on the basis of changing sex-designation on identification cards for post-operative transsexual women. Nok promoted the term instead of but was controversial because of its connotation with gender identity disease. The goal of the Thai Transgender Alliance is to delist gender dysphoria from international psychological diagnostic criteria and uses the term to advocate for transgender identity. A common protest sign during sexual rights marches is meaning "Kathoey are not mentally ill". Activism in Thailand is discouraged if it interferes with official policy.Cameron, Liz. "Sexual Health and Rights Sex Workers, Transgender People & Men Who have Sex with Men." ''OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE Public Health Program''(2006): n. page. Web. 24 March 2017. In January 2006, the Thai Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS had their offices raided after demonstrations against Thai-US foreign trade agreements. Under the Thai Constitution of 1997, the right to be free of discrimination based on health conditions helped to minimize the stigma against communities living with HIV/AIDS. In most cases, governments and their agencies fail to protect transgender people against these exclusions. There is a lack of HIV/AIDS services for specifically transgender people and feminizing hormones largely go without any medical monitoring. Trans prejudice has produced discriminatory behaviors that have led to the exclusion of transgender people from economic and social activity. World-wide, transgender people face discrimination amongst family members, religious settings, education, and the work-place. Accepted mainly in fashion-related jobs or show business, people who are transgender are discriminated against in the job market and have limited job opportunities. have also experienced ridicule from coworkers and tend to have lower salaries. Long-term unemployment reduces the chances of contributing to welfare for the family and lowers self-esteem, causing a higher likelihood of prostitution in specialized ladyboy bars. "Ladyboy" bars also can provide a sense of community and reinforces a female sense of identity for . Harassment from the police is evident especially for who work on the streets. may be rejected in official contexts being rejected entry or services. Based on a study by
AIDS Care ''AIDS Care'' (subtitle: ''Psychological and Socio-medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV'') is a peer-reviewed medical journal publishing HIV/AIDS research from multiple different disciplines, including psychology and sociology. It was established in 1989 an ...
participants who identified as a girl or at an early age were more likely to be exposed to prejudice or violence from men in their families. are more subjected to sexual attacks from men than are other homosexuals.
Anjaree Anjaree ( th, อัญจารี) was an LGBT rights organization in Thailand. It formed as a lesbian organization in 1986 and has focused on issues such as reforming the words used to refer to same sex desire and campaigning for same sex marria ...
is one of Thailand's gay feminist organizations, established in mid-1986 by women's right activists. The organization advocated wider public understanding of homosexuality based on the principles of human rights. The first public campaign opposing sexual irregularity was launched in 1996. Social spaces are often limited for even if Thai society does not actively persecute them. Indigenous Thai cultural traditions have given a social space for sexual minorities. In January 2015, the Thai government announced it would recognize the third sex in its constitution in order to ensure all sexes be treated equally under the law.


In popular culture

The first all- music group in Thailand was formed in 2006. It is named " Venus Flytrap" and was selected and promoted by Sony BMG Music Entertainment. "The Lady Boys of Bangkok" is a revue that has been performed in the UK since 1998, touring the country in both theatres and the famous "Sabai Pavilion" for nine months each year. '' Ladyboys'', also a popular term used in Thailand when referring to transgender women, was the title of a popular documentary in the United Kingdom, where it was aired on
Channel 4 Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network operated by the state-owned Channel Four Television Corporation. It began its transmission on 2 November 1982 and was established to provide a fourth television service in ...
TV in 1992 and was directed by
Jeremy Marre Jeremy Marre (7 October 1943 – 15 March 2020) was an English television director, writer and producer who founded Harcourt Films and made films around the world. Much of his work focused on musical subjects. His reputation was made with the '' ...
. Marre aimed to portray the life of two adolescent living in rural Thailand, as they strove to land a job at a cabaret revue in Pattaya. The German-Swedish band Lindemann wrote the song "Ladyboy", on their first studio album ''
Skills in Pills ''Skills in Pills'' is the debut studio album by the European supergroup Lindemann, featuring Rammstein frontman Till Lindemann and Peter Tägtgren, founder of Hypocrisy and Pain. It was released on 23 June 2015 through Warner Central Europe. It ...
'', about a man's preference for . In series 1, episode 3 of
British sitcom A British sitcom or a Britcom is a situational comedy programme produced for British television. Most British sitcoms are recorded on studio sets, while some have an element of location filming. A handful are made almost exclusively on location ...
''
I'm Alan Partridge ''I'm Alan Partridge'' is a British sitcom written by Steve Coogan, Peter Baynham and Armando Iannucci. Coogan stars as Alan Partridge, a tactless and inept radio DJ and television presenter who has been left by his wife and dropped from the BB ...
'', the
protagonist A protagonist () is the main character of a story. The protagonist makes key decisions that affect the plot, primarily influencing the story and propelling it forward, and is often the character who faces the most significant obstacles. If a st ...
Alan Partridge Alan Gordon Partridge is a comedy character portrayed by the English actor Steve Coogan. A parody of British television personalities, Partridge is a tactless and inept broadcaster with an inflated sense of celebrity. Since his debut in 1991, h ...
frequently mentions ladyboys, seemingly expressing a sexual interest in them. Thai style and fashion has largely borrowed from Korean popular culture.


"Uncle Go Paknam"

"Uncle Go Paknam", created by Pratchaya Phanthathorn, is a popular non-heterosexual advice column that first appeared in 1975 in a magazine titled ', meaning 'strange'.Jackson, Peter A. ''First Queer Voices from Thailand: Uncle Go's Advice Columns for Gays, Lesbians and Kathoeys''. Hong Kong: Hong Kong U Press, 2016. Print. Through letters and responses it became an outlet to express the desires and necessities of the non-heterosexual community in Thailand. The magazine achieved national popularity because of its bizarre and often gay content. It portrayed positive accounts of 's and men called "sharks" to view transgender people as legitimate or even preferred sexual partners and started a more accepting public discourse in Thailand. Under the pen name of Phan Thathron he wrote the column "Girls to the Power of 2" that included profiles of 's in a glamorous or erotic pose. "Girls to the Power of 2" were the first accounts of ' lives based on interviews that allowed their voices to be published in the mainstream press of Thailand. The heterosexual public became more inclined to read about transgender communities that were previously given negative press in Thai newspapers. Go Paknam's philosophy was "kathoeys are good (for men)."


''Inside Thailand's Third Gender''

A documentary entitled ''Inside Thailand's Third Gender'' examines the lives of in Thailand and features interviews with various transgender women, the obstacles these people face with their family and lovers, but moreover on a larger societal aspect where they feel ostracized by the religious Thai culture. Following contestants participating in one of the largest transgender beauty pageants, known as
Miss Tiffany's Universe Miss Tiffany's Universe ( th, มิสทิฟฟานี่ยูนิเวิร์ส) now known as Miss Tiffany is a beauty pageant for Thai transgender women in Pattaya, Thailand. It has taken place annually since 1998. The winner will ...
, the film not only illustrates the process and competition that takes place during the beauty pageant, but also highlights the systems of oppression that take place to target the transgender community in Thailand.


See also

*
Anjaree Anjaree ( th, อัญจารี) was an LGBT rights organization in Thailand. It formed as a lesbian organization in 1986 and has focused on issues such as reforming the words used to refer to same sex desire and campaigning for same sex marria ...
* Bahasa Binan *
Femminiello or (singular , also spelled as ''femmeniello'') are a population of people who embody a third gender role in traditional Neapolitan culture It may be hard to define this term within modern Western notions of "gay men" versus "trans women" sinc ...
*
Gender identities in Thailand In Thailand, as elsewhere, one can find several different gender roles, identities and diverse visual markers of masculinity and femininity. The demand for positive self-identity is growing in Thailand and support is growing. Heterosexual/Tradit ...
*
LGBT rights in Thailand Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Thailand face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity are legal in Thailand, but same-sex couples and households headed by sam ...
* Miss Gay Philippines * Māhū *
Muxe In Zapotec cultures of Oaxaca (southern Mexico), a muxe (also spelled muxhe; ) is a person assigned male at birth who dresses and behaves in ways otherwise associated with women; they may be seen as a third gender. Etymology The Zapotec word ...
*
Pandaka Paṇḍaka is a Sanskrit and Pali sexuality term which does not have precise English translation, but incorporates (or perhaps confuses) multiple concepts associated with immaturity, voyeurism, impotence and infertility. It has been studied und ...
*
Tamil sexual minorities Tamil sexual minorities are Tamil people who do not conform to heterosexual gender norms. They may identify as LGBTQIA. It has been estimated that India has a population of 2.5 million homosexuals, though not all of them are Tamil, and not all Tam ...
* Travesti * Third gender


References


External links

* Andrew Matzner
In Legal Limbo: Thailand, Transgender Men, and the Law
1999. Criticizes the common view that kathoey are fully accepted by Thai society. * Andrew Matzner

1999. Reports on a kathoey "sorority" at Chiang Mai University.
Transgender Asia
including several articles on kathoey

* Ladyboy: ''Thailand's Theater of Illusion''. Chiang Mai, Cognoscenti Books, 2012. ASIN: B0085S4WQC
Can you tell the difference between Katoeys and real ladies?"
* E.G. Allyn

2002. Description of the gay and kathoey scene of Thailand. * Chanon Intramart and Eric Allyn

2003. Describes the story of Nong Tum.
''The Hermaphrodite World''
is a film exploring the kathoey culture of Thailand
Katoey Thai-Ladyboys

Farrell, James Austin. "The price of change and the right to be a woman in Thailand", ''Asian Correspondent'', 2015-12-14.
{{Sexual identities Gender systems Thai culture Third gender LGBT culture in Thailand Transgender in Asia LGBT terminology