06/18/2008
Thai School Creates 'Trans' Toilet
A school in Thailand has created a "transvestite toilet" for its "teen boys who prefer to dress as girls" according to the AP.
"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."
There seems to be some confusion in the reporting between "transgender" and "transvestite" and perhaps the terms are more blurred in Thailand, and either way, it seems like a hugely disproportionate number of students for either definition. 200 out of 2600?
In any case, the concept isn't that foreign. As you may remember, I posted about a school in Colorado back in February when it announced it would be accommodating an eight-year-old transgender-identified child by providing unisex bathrooms.
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 11:27 AM EST by Andy in News, Thailand, Transgender | Permalink
Like it?
Subscribe to FREE Towleroad daily headlines with our RSS feed!
RECENT STORIES:
Oh, I dunno' if the Thais are confused about what is transgenderism and what is transvestism. Maybe different cultures have different types of sexual and gender role non-conformities. I saw a special of ABC TV where almost half of the boys dressed as girls in Thailand said they did not want a sex change. I've read definitions of "transgender" that say that transvestites, intersex folks, transsexuals & androgynous appearing males and females ALL fall under that term. But many Towleroad commenters have said, "no, only transsexuals and intersex people are transgendered."
Ok, so that means that a transvestite who has breast implants, takes female hormones, has had "her" Adam's Apple removed, but still has a nine inch dick (when erect) and uses it on MEN...well, isn't "she" still gay. "She's" at the gay bar, still at Gay Pride Events, still goes to the all-night-- ALL MALE movie theater, etc.
Humph! The Thais may have a confusing distinction between transgender and transvestite--but our definitions aren't that clearly defined either. I'll say it one mo' time,
transgender doesn't always mean transsexual, and many transfolk are GAY, and some gay folks are TRANS.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Jun 18, 2008 12:06:01 PM
"...and either way, it seems like a hugely disproportionate number of students for either definition. 200 out of 2600?"
Sooo...because there's 'only' 200 of them they shouldn't have their own bathroom? What's numbers really got to do with it? Obviously the school decided something needed to be done and this is the result. What're the alternatives?
Posted by: Chas | Jun 18, 2008 12:13:27 PM
Is it Thailand that has the "Ray Rays"?
Who knew Thailand was so open minded. I remember Anthony Bourdain interviewed them on his show and they said nobody ever messes with them and men are not phobic of them. Apparently it's a long standing tradition and is never looked down on.
Posted by: Ashley | Jun 18, 2008 2:37:38 PM
Chas, was Andy was very obviously saying was that 200 out of 2600 is a very large percentage. Unless it's an all-male school, almost 1 in 6 boys of its teen boys prefer to dress as girls.
Like Andy is really saying they shouldn't have their own bathroom.
I have always marveled at the huge number of Thai lady boys.
Posted by: Paul R | Jun 18, 2008 2:37:52 PM
Hmm...I dunno...That's what it sounded like to me. But infalible I am not so I could very well be mistaken. Apologies to AT if I am.
Posted by: Chas | Jun 18, 2008 2:43:17 PM
I saw a whole special on transgendered in Thailand. It was quite interesting. It is not universally accepted but it has its roots in their theology (gods changing sex or being male and female at the same time, etc). They are called kathoeys. They have a better status in society than the Hijiras in India, but still are not as understood in the countryside.
Posted by: Juanita | Jun 18, 2008 4:04:46 PM
A lot of nonsense here. The Thai know eactly who kathoey "are", the problem is how to apply a Western vocabulary to people who have been integarted into a culture w/o much thought for centuries. The origins are not belived to be theological as much as some Buddhist thinkers would view katheoy as people who have had some karmic problems in a previous incarnation. The technicalities aren't as important as the idea that katheoy are assumed to have been born that way and that their being has to be accepted. If anything, they are more accepted in the countryside than in the city. Still, they are marginalized and tyically have been barred from high status occupations, even if they have the requesite education. In contemporary Thailand, they are treated with suspcion because disproprtionate numbers go into sex work or petty thievery. In the past, they often helped initiate young men into sex, as did female sex workers. Now young people initiate each other into sex. As for numbers, no one knows, but frankly after living in Thailand, they don't seem that numerous if you take snapshots of the general population.
The concept of gay is much newer in Thailand...dating back to the late 60s and Thai ideas about homosexuality are much different (many assume it is an acquired trait), although older people and rural people amy assume that gay people are the same as katheoy.
Posted by: Rich | Jun 18, 2008 4:35:24 PM