A male transvestite yesterday lodged a complaint with the Central Administrative Court asking for a change of wording in his Army conscription record paper categorising him as being branded "permanently ill mentally" for his homosexuality into something not so discriminatory.

Samart Meecharoen, a sophomore at Ban Somdejchaopraya Rajabhat University, said the term in the record paper had prevented him from making any business deals or applying for any jobs, because he was regarded as legally incapable.

The court received Samart's complaint but has not decided whether it would proceed against three defendants responsible for a conscription event in Lop Buri in April last year: the first is the Defence Ministry, the second the Army Reserve Command. An Army officer, who is head of the provincial conscription centre, and another officer who is a senior medic - are jointly third defendants.

Samart, or Namwan, said he had earlier contacted the Lop Buri conscription centre asking that the term "permanently ill mentally" be altered to another deemed more appropriate, but the senior medic said he could not change it under a new Defence Ministry regulation issued in 1997.

Under the regulation, the term "transgender", which is the closest available to Samart's case, applies to only "candidates who have undergone breast implants or sex change operations". The term "permanently ill mentally" applies to Samart for his "feminine mental characteristics and consumption of female hormones to alter his chest into women's breasts."

After being rejected for part-time jobs, he attempted to apply for on several occasions, Samart said he had undergone a mental health test at Galaya Rajanagarindra Institute and passed it. The document issued by the Institute said that Samart was normal mentally and capable of executing his legal affairs like other ordinary individuals.

In his complaint, Samart said the three officers professional opinions towards his nature were unlawful and they had violated his dignity as a human being.

Before submitting his complaint, Samart was cheered by a number of gay activists who showed up outside the court compound on Sathorn Road including Wiroj Tangwanich, chairman of Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand and former Muay Thai champion Parinya Charoenphol, who had undergone sex change surgery.