Thailand’s Ladyboy ID Pictures: Gender Confusion at the Polls

Well, hi there. Thanks for clicking by today. You’re just in time for a fresh cup of coffee and a delectable virtual treat. Help yourself. Say, even if you’re not a Thai -o-phile, you likely heard the results of the recent election here in Thailand where the sister of ousted Prime Minister Taksin Shinawatra swept into power and became the first ever female Prime Minister. Seems the people were having their say, and even though one editorial claims a terrorist government is now in control, at least the violence should be at an end.

Meanwhile, on a lighter note, Thailand’s sunstantial Ladyboy community  complained that they weren’t being fairly represented at the elections because their ID card photos were too difficult for polling officials to decipher.

Members of the Trans-Female Association of Thailand are trans-genders and trans-sexuals known collectively as katoeys or ladyboys.

“We have a big problem when we use our identity cards in banks, schools, hospitals and now when we vote. The picture may show a woman but it says ‘mister’ on the card. Or the picture may show a teenage boy and the person now looks like a woman,” says Yollada Suanyoc, president of the Ladyboy organization Yollada feels very strongly that this situation reflect how slow the Thai government has been to truly accept them despite the outward trappings of having done so, and has accused society of grouping trans-genders, trans-sexuals and homosexuals as one and the same when each group had its own separate issues.

There is a national rule in Thailand that everyone over the age of 15 must carry an ID card with them at all times, which is renewed every seven years. (In fact that is about to change. The government now says everyone age 8 and up needs an ID Card. Not enough paperwork in government already?)

Trans-genders and trans-sexuals are so much a part of Thai culture that one new airline has hired only ladyboys as cabin crew. Ladyboys are often employed in cosmetics, shops and health stores and in bars in some of Bangkok’s racier entertainment districts.

Perhaps the politically correct answer might lie in more frequent renewal of these identity cards, as seven years is a long time for most of us to go without any changes, even though transgender surgery might not be on everyone’s agenda!

Well “Happy Handbag” to you, sailor!

See ya!

Bob