Its good to be a transvestite in Thailand

[Spec]

MrFun, you found your next vacation destination!



http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080618/...tite_restrooms

BANGKOK, Thailand - For teen boys who prefer to dress as girls at one rural high school in Thailand, taking a bathroom break no longer means choosing between "male" and "female" restrooms. There's now a "transvestite toilet."

The Kampang School in northeastern Thailand conducted a survey last term that showed more than 200 of the school's 2,600 students considered themselves transgender, said school director Sitisak Sumontha.

So, when classes resumed in May, the school unveiled a unisex restroom designated by a human figure split in half — part man in blue and part woman in red. Below it are the words "Transvestite Toilet."

Three transgender students praised the new restroom as they plucked their eyebrows and applied face powder in front of the mirror outside the stalls.

"I'm so happy about this," Vichai Sangsakul, a teenager with a pixie hairdo pulled back with a pink barrette, told Thailand's PBS news channel on Tuesday. "It looks bad going to female restrooms. What would other people think?"

Most rural Thais are conservative in many ways, but the trailblazing toilet initiative at the school in northeastern Sisaket province reflects another aspect of Thai society: its tolerance of the country's very visible transgender community. The term describes a wide range of identities including cross-dressers, transvestites, transsexuals and those born with the physical characteristics of both sexes.

"These students want to be able to go to the restroom in peace without fear of being watched, laughed at or groped," said school director Sitisak Sumontha.

He said the concept reflected a growing need at Thai schools and universities.

Kampang is not Thailand's first educational institution to set up unisex washrooms, though Sitisak said he believed it was a first for a secondary school. A 1,500-student technical college in the northern province of Chiang Mai set up a "Pink Lotus Bathroom" for its 15 transvestite students in 2003.

Deputy Education Minister Boonlue Prasertsopar recently said the ministry plans to count the number of transgender university students.

He said he was not promoting transgender interests, "but if there are a lot of them in a university and it's a problem, we may have to consider building toilets and dormitories for them."

Transgenders are regularly seen on TV soap operas and throughout Bangkok, working at department store cosmetics counters, popular restaurants, in office jobs and in the capital's red-light districts. Thailand also has transgender beauty pageants.

May I be the first to say:" WTF!"

And :vomit:

Thank you.

Spec.

[Will9]

:vomit:

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

Originally posted by Spec
May I be the first to say:" WTF!"

And :vomit:

Thank you.

Spec.

Ah, so you'd rather keep them close at hand for those bathroom encounters, right?

[Spec]

No, I'd keep them, and their feelings about who they are, bottomed up like they should be.

Spec.

[Q Classic]

I agree. Closets can be very comfortable.

[Space05us]

Originally posted by Spec
MrFun, you found your next vacation destination!



http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080618/...tite_restrooms



May I be the first to say:" WTF!"

And :vomit:

Thank you.

Spec.

Love them or hate them they're still people.

[Dinner]

I was amazed how many cross dressers there were in Thailand. Most Asian cultures are so conservative but Thailand is really out there.

[Theben]

Originally posted by Spec
No, I'd keep them, and their feelings about who they are, bottomed up like they should be.

Spec.

I'd say about half of them are bottomed up at times.

[Theben]

Originally posted by Oerdin
I was amazed how many cross dressers there were in Thailand. Most Asian cultures are so conservative but Thailand is really out there.

When I was in the Phils they seemed pretty relaxed about their drag queens.

[FrostyBoy]

It's a way of life in Thailand. They are super nice people, their motto on life is to simply enjoy life and be happy.

A lot of the men in Thailand are very feminine, it's like the whole country is made up of girls, which I can't stand, it's just too.... nice.. and creepy.

Whenever I walk down the popular streets, I will be stopped by a woman, or at least I think she is, she will try to sell me beer and all sorts, walking around them is near impossible, I am impressed by their determination.

But I am more impressed by the determination of 5 year old children asking for money, they simply won't stop, or let go of your hand. I very much wanted to give something, but I had been strictly warned not to do so, and to just walk into a nearby building like a hotel, and they will let go. It sucks, I've had it happen to me a few times. Worst one was in China, she lasted a good half hour - when she was pryed off by my (chinese) colleague. Heart wrenching for me.

Don't bother going to the strip bars in Thailand, they're all guys. I have been told its near impossible to identify whether they're male or not, but I can definitely tell (due to years of practice staring at women? )

[Spec]

Originally posted by Theben


I'd say about half of them are bottomed up at times.

Do I really have to specify that I was obviously joking?

Spec.

[Theben]

That you didn't spell bottled? I noticed.

[DaShi]

But I am more impressed by the determination of 5 year old children asking for money, they simply won't stop, or let go of your hand. I very much wanted to give something, but I had been strictly warned not to do so, and to just walk into a nearby building like a hotel, and they will let go. It sucks, I've had it happen to me a few times. Worst one was in China, she lasted a good half hour - when she was pryed off by my (chinese) colleague. Heart wrenching for me.

My friend wouldn't let me give them vodka. The kid was holding out a cup and I had a bottle. It seemed like the friendly thing to do. Also, if there's money in the cups, you're not supposed to take it, regardless of how much they offer it to you by shaking it in your face.

Don't bother going to the strip bars in Thailand, they're all guys. I have been told its near impossible to identify whether they're male or not, but I can definitely tell (due to years of practice staring at women? )

So you can definitely point out the guys at strip clud, heh?

[FrostyBoy]

I'm quite positive that I could, I have not been inside, but what does it matter? The strip clubs' doors are all wide open from the street. I could see they were guys; or just really ugly women, either way, its a lose lose situation.

[McCrea]

To each it's own.

[Spec]

Originally posted by Theben
That you didn't spell bottled? I noticed.

Nah. Thats just my awesome english skillz in effect...y'all.

Uhuh.

Spec.