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Published on October 27, 2007

A few months ago, Suttirat Simsiriwong, a brand manager for a French luxury skincare firm, made newspaper headlines when a leading Bangkok hotel refused her entry to its nightclub.

The incident ended two weeks later with the hotel presenting its apologies to Suttirat.

But the very fact that Suttirat was told by the club's staff that katoey (transgender people) were barred from entering the nightspot after her ID card revealed she was born a man, is proof that much more needs to be done in the Kingdom to recognise the rights of the gay community.

Suttirat, 35, has become an idol both locally and internationally. She is the co-founder of Transgender Women of Thailand, a non-governmental organisation that aims to provide the public with legal and medical advice plus information on a wide range of issues from raising a transvestite child to sex-change surgery.

"Many parents are unable to accept the fact that their children are gay or enjoy cross-dressing. They don't understand and don't know how to deal with their kids' choices, so they enforce all kinds of restrictive measures. In many cases, the parents mean well but they're worried about letting youngsters enter a world that's unfamiliar to them. So it's very important for us to introduce transvestite role models who are successful in their lives and careers, such as doctors, air hostesses, lawyers and businessmen," says Suttirat.

Those opting for surgery also need the right advice - and plenty of it. "It's not only painful but also very expensive. A sex change costs about Bt300,000. It's a major decision so it's important to have all the facts beforehand."

Right now the organisation has about 100 registered members across the country and is expanding.

"We will represent our community and act as communicators and facilitators both through media and our website, Tgwthailand.org."

While gays and transvestites are generally well tolerated in Thai society and many have successful careers, especially in the entertainment, fashion and beauty industry, current laws make rights to bureaucratic documents and medical treatment very limited.

That's why Transgender Women of Thailand is pushing for a new law on sexual identity that would do away with discrimination and also allow transsexuals to use the title Ms instead of Mr.

"There are several instances where gays and transvestites are the best-qualified for a job but are turned down because the legal documents don't match the way they look. A lot of studies show that being gay has a genetic root and more and more countries are accepting that fact and making attempts to resolve the social issues.

"Here in Thailand, we are still very conservative about gay rights."

According to Suttirat, both men and women are opposed to the bill that will legally recognise male-to-female transsexuals as women.

Men, she says, are frightened that they'll be duped into marriage by a pretty girl only to find out later that she was once a he.

Suttirat acknowledges that such a scenario could occur but says that if two people are really in love, truth should prevail.

"People may perceive that a cemetery is haunted, but there might not be any ghosts," she says.

Women are protesting at the bill as they feel threatened by the competition: transsexuals, it is often felt, tend to be more beautiful and take better care of themselves than straight women.

"Such a perception is hurtful because it's simply not true. But since transsexual's standards are so high, it is our duty to encourage the less beautiful to be good at something - through improving their minds, for example," says Suttirat.

"I'm was fortunate in that my parents understood me. They thought that if I acted as if I didn't have a good education, society would blame them. If, on the other hand, I did well, society would praise them. So, it was up to me. That's why I hope to carry on this mission and to create a new channel of communication that equips other transsexuals with the knowledge they need to be confident."

Kupluthai Pungkanon

 The Nation