The banner "Novotel-No Homosexual" was posted on www.bangkokrainbow.org yesterday morning, as part of the organisation's boycott of the high-end hotel, which barred a transvestite from one of its nightclubs.

Nokorn Arthit, the president of Bangkok Rainbow, initiated the boycott after he heard about Sutthirat Simsiriwong, a cross-dresser, who said he was not allowed to enter Concept CM2 club in the Novotel Siam Square last Friday - because he was a katoey.

The word "katoey" refers to "lady boys", cross-dressers and transgender people.

Nikorn said the Asia Pacific Rainbow, a network of more than 100 organisations representing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in 26 states across the region agreed to support the boycott - via it and its members' websites - after being told about the incident.

Nikorn said he hoped the International Lesbian and Gay Association would also do the same.

"We just want all human beings to be treated equally, regardless of their sexual orientation," he said.

Sutthirat, a local brand manager for a French cosmetic firm, was barred from entering CM2 on Friday after club staff checked his ID and found his card listed him as "Mr".

Novotel Siam Square said in a statement on Wednesday Sutthirat was barred not because of his sexual leaning, but for security reasons, as his appearance did not match the information on his ID card.