| Thailand's 'Third Sex' Wants Acceptance |
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| Wednesday, 27 May 2009 | |
 In Thailand, transgender males, also called lady-boys, are a common sight in cities and tourist areas. While many transgenders work in traditionally female professions such as in cabaret shows or Thailand's notorious sex industry, most are looking for better integration in Thai society. But, despite their high visibility, transgenders still face challenges in seeking acceptanceDespite Thailand's reputation for sexual tolerance, transgenders still face ridicule and are discriminated against in the workplace. Many transgenders have turned to prostitution, a tolerated but risky profession in Thailand, where less than one in three sex workers are educated about HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Sisters is Thailand's first counseling service for transgenders, providing them with advice, support and activities such as cooking. Neung, a Sisters outreach supervisor, says there are close to 2,000 transgenders in Pattaya."We have many transgender working as sex worker," said Neung. "Many kind of transgender but nobody come to take care and teach them about protecting themselves against HIV or STIs. That's why we have to open the Sisters." But what Transgenders really want is the right to legally change their gender to female so their ID cards and documents can match the way they feel and appear. |
