Latest news with #LGBTIs
Bangkok Post
14-07-2025
- Health
- Bangkok Post
Pageant for progress
There is more to a gay pageant than crowning the good-looking, charismatic winner. Beneath the glamorous veneer lies an expectation that the candidate have goodwill and sacrifice himself for the community. And this is what the champion of Mr. Gay Universe Thailand 2025 should embody. After an audition in May, 24 contestants pitched social campaigns on a wide range of topics from safe space to sexual health for LGBTIs at University of Phayao's College of Management in Bangkok on July 5. The winner of the Best Pride Campaign will be announced on Saturday and then fast-tracked to the final round the same day. The national representative will compete on the global stage. Mr. Gay Universe is an international competition that aims to enhance the visibility of gay men, empowering them to be role models and change-makers in their communities. It is expected to take place in India in November. "Today's event allows contestants to promote human rights and gender equality," said Nikorn Chimkong, director of the Bangkok Rainbow Organisation, which has held the national gay pageant for seven years. Previously, it was named Mr. Gay World Thailand. "It gives an opportunity for contestants to show their creativity and public spirit," said Prof Seri Wongmontha, the chair of the committee for the Best Pride Campaign Award. "As Thailand now values gender diversity, everybody is part of driving change." Each contestant took the stage and answered the committee's questions. In a social campaign titled "Empower Of Uniblood", Panupong Pimprasit called for the Thai Red Cross Society to lift the ban on blood donation by LGBTIs due to the perceived stigma of risky sexual behaviour, which he attributed to the spread of HIV/Aids in 1985. "It should be noted that our blood supplies are running low. In addition, HIV can infect all, not just LGBTIs. Besides, the Food and Drug Administration has already revised guidelines on blood donation," he said. The FDA officially removed restrictions that had forbidden blood donations by gay and bisexual men -- a policy that critics say is discriminatory -- in 2023. Panupong proposed that screening should apply to all blood donors, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender, or sex. He showed a current screening form, though already updated, that includes two biological sexes and a new transgender category. In practice, however, transgender people are still not allowed to donate blood. "Screening should be based on individual risks rather than LGBTI stigma," he said. Panupong's social campaign will gather a broad coalition of government bodies, the private sector and civil society. He will develop a knowledge-sharing platform, design strategies to tackle inequality and increase blood supplies. In a social campaign titled "My Little Pride Show", Surachai Saengsuwan has LGBTI artists mentor children with Down syndrome. For seven years, he has organised art camps to promote collaboration and showcase their works. Inspired by a student who wants to be a cabaret performer, he has continued with this year's campaign to improve the public perception of them as givers. A pilot group of 30 children with Down syndrome joined workshops in May and performed with different groups of the LGBTI community, including gay men, drags, transgender people and bears, in June. They are expected to perform with a group of molam singers later this year. "Nowadays, LGBTIs are not just survivors but givers. We have an opportunity to live a meaningful life," he said. Crowned with the "Drag Queen Iconic Buriram Award", Jakkaphan Phataraaksornsakul is working on a social campaign titled "Disability And Diversity My Power My Pride". Born with cleft lip and palate, Jakkaphan has been suffering from discrimination. He wants to mentor disabled people who are interested in drag performances. "There is no need to hide. Just show it," he added. In a project titled "Rainbow Wounds", Pand Chandrakaeo is raising awareness about the impact of violence on LGBTIs, including those with intersectional identities. As physical, sexual and verbal attacks hurt and leave wounds, he aims to empower victims by encouraging them to speak out on social media. Santi Kengsuwan is conducting a project titled "Notice The Red Flag" to address rising violence against LGBTIs. His online group allows users to ask for immediate help in the vicinity. They can also get news alerts, learn about different types of LGBTI violence and receive psychological support. "As the number of cases is on the rise, this lifeline will ensure safety for vulnerable groups, especially sex workers," he said. Meanwhile, Eakachai Sreprom is developing an all-in-one application called Gay Unicorn. It provides a community space for gay men to talk and learn about a wide range of topics from rights to sex health. For example, it gathers information about sexually transmitted diseases and chemsex, which is not available on the Internet. Volunteers are at hand to offer advice. Some contestants place emphasis on the promotion of gender diversity in an educational setting. Pattawee Tunprasert is planning a social campaign to create safe space in elementary school. As statistics show that LGBTI students are more stressed than non-LGBTI peers, Pattawee wants to equip teachers with more knowledge of gender diversity. In a social campaign titled "Hear And Heal", Supakij Phosida is pushing for reintegration of LGBTI ex-inmates into society. At a prison in Ayutthaya, there are around 60 LGBTIs out of 1,500 inmates (4%). Upon release, their jobs are limited to hairdressing or household chores. His project will provide more opportunities by training well-behaved ex-prisoners and matching them with local factories under an MoU. "One of them is going to set a quota for LGBTIs. I will bring more on board. A small step is already a success," he added.
Bangkok Post
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
In love, in law
Nareeluc Pairchaiyapoom, director of the International Human Rights Division at the Ministry of Justice, spent more than 15 years working on the legalisation of same-sex marriage, which finally took effect early this year. She said, however, "it is just the first step to make everybody aware of equal rights". Nareeluc recounted that when the campaign for civil partnership started over a decade ago, people laughed at her, dismissing it as "impossible". At the time, there wasn't strong support for same-sex marriage legislation in society. Besides, a comparative study found that most countries take a step-by-step approach. Civil partnership would strategically pave the way for marriage equality. "But the greenlight [from the government] and strong voices from civil society make our life easier. We can now go ahead with marriage equality," she said during a panel discussion titled "Law Out Loud" organised as part of the Bangkok Post Pride 2025 which took place last week at Lido Connect, Siam Square. Same-sex marriage came to light when Tunyawaj Kamolwongwat of the now-defunct Move Forward Party proposed an amendment to the Civil and Commercial Code on June 18, 2020. An online public hearing saw over 45,000 participants -- the largest number in its history -- in three days. A month later, the government dusted off civil partnership, which dates back to 2013. A draft bill faced resistance from civil society and stalled under military rule. The House of Representatives approved those and two other versions in 2022 before they were dropped when parliament was dissolved to make way for the general election on May 14, 2023. Under the tenure of former PM Srettha Thavisin, same-sex marriage proposals were tabled for consideration. Lawmakers passed the Marriage Equality Bill -- a consolidation of four drafts -- on March 27 last year. People's Party MP Tunyawaj, vice-chair of the Committee on Children, Youth, Women, Older Persons, Persons with Disabilities, Ethnic Group and LGBTIs, said "more steps must be taken", highlighting the need for gender recognition. Although the Marriage Equality Bill comes into use, the veneer of equality still belies misunderstanding of and discrimination against LGBTIs. "They are afraid that LGBTIs will change title and they can't distinguish. Some men ask me if they want to marry women and have babies, how will they know? I would like to say it [changing title] is an individual right," he said at the forum. Tunyawaj proposed a gender recognition draft bill, but it was turned down on Feb 21 last year. His bid is based on a debate over the right to change title, following a revelation that a bank had given a gender-neutral title -- Khun -- to a famous transgender celebrity while other transgenders did not have that privilege. Nareeluc said the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security is working on gender recognition. There are three possible scenarios: self-determination, reservation for those who have sex reassignment surgery, and addition of X gender markers alongside M and F. "It is very controversial and has not come to conclusion yet," she said. The Ministry of Justice, meanwhile, already submitted the government's version of the Anti-Discrimination Bill for cabinet approval earlier this year. Other drafts have been proposed by civil society and political parties. Following hate crimes against LGBTIs, a legal mechanism is also under review. Tunyawaj stressed the importance of human rights education to raise public awareness. He faced a threat of force while working on a marriage equality draft. There is also misunderstanding, for example, that LGBTIs should be 25 to get married or they should seek medical confirmation of their identity. "When I was little, I couldn't imagine creating a family like my brother and sister. People fall in love all the time. [Because of] human rights, we can choose people we want to live with. It is a basic thing," he said. Nareeluc added that more work needs to be done to bring about acceptance. "We are almost there, but not yet. We need more effort to raise awareness in society. We can see from news that there is still some discrimination on the ground." Tunyawaj said diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is being implemented to make society more inclusive. It should, however, involve everything in the supply chain rather than focus solely on the quota for LGBTI staff in the workplace. Nareeluc said DEI is included in the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights. Its collaboration with the private sector can improve diversity and inclusion in work environment. "Under the Gender Equality Act of 2015, a committee found that over 90% of complaints have been discrimination against LGBTIs in the workplace over the past decade. Promoting DEI can help create a more equal society," she said. Nareeluc said, however, there remains challenges. To implement LGBTI-related laws, effort must be put into consultation with religious groups. Official statistics of the LGBTI population is also crucial for allocation of budgets for LGBTI-related policies. And political will is needed for continued support for equal rights. Tunyawaj said the concept of gender equality is not included in the 20-year National Strategy (2018-2037). However, those who advocate for positive change are not in the upper echelons of power.
