Playboy's first transgender Playmate, a new TV show coming to Thailand and an award-winning Thai gay film feature in this month's round-up of LGBTI news
ON THE CENTREFOLD
If there's one piece of news that shook the world more than the death of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, it was the introduction of the magazine's newest Playmate, the French-born beauty Ines Rau. She is making history as the 64-year-old magazine's first transgender Playmate, and not everyone is happy about it.
Playboy is legendary as a men's lifestyle and entertainment magazine, with its throng of sexy girls parading on its covers and famous centrefolds. The magazine's decision to feature a transgender model was viewed by some as "cowering to political correctness". Many fans have since revoked their subscriptions, something Playboy itself acknowledged on its own Twitter account by comparing such a reaction to when they first featured a black Playmate, Jenny Jackson, in 1965.
"Many fans revoked their subscription or returned the issue," posted Playboy on Twitter. "Many more fans embraced Jenny Jackson, her beauty, and Playboy's decision."
Playboy's chief creative officer Cooper Hefner, son of the late Hefner, responded to the negativity by saying to The New York Times that: "It's the right thing to do. We're at a moment where gender roles are evolving."
"I didn't make that decision based off of whether or not individuals who were paying for products or are fans of the brand are going to be satisfied with it," he said. "I made the decision because it was the right decision to make, regardless of the comments that come out."
The 26-year-old Rau is by no means the first transgender woman to grace the pages of Playboy. In 1981 and 1991, Brit model Caroline Cossey, who featured in the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only, also appeared in the magazine before and after coming out as transgender.
In an interview with Playboy, Rau revealed she used to conceal her identity as transgender to avoid being perceived as "weird". She later decided to come out as who she really is.
"It's a salvation to speak the truth about yourself, whether it's your gender, sexuality, whatever. The people who reject you aren't worth it. It's not about being loved by others; it's about loving yourself," said Rau to Playboy.
Rau will pose fully nude in the magazine's November/December 2017 issue.
THE FACE OF DRAG
Piyarat Kaljareuk, well-known as the executive producer from Kantana studio who brought success to the Thai version of American model-seeking reality show The Face, is setting his sights on yet another famous TV show.
Piyarat Kaljareuk, executive producer at Kantana. Photo: Patipat Janthong
On his Instagram account, Piyarat recently revealed he will be bringing RuPaul's Drag Race to life for Thai audiences. Drag Race features weekly challenges to search for a drag superstar and the contestants compete on their sense of fashion, entertainment and an ability to conquer a photoshoot, runway walk and even a lip-syncing performance.
The details have yet to be revealed on when or which channel the show will be aired on.
Previously, in Piyarat's brainchild The Face Thailand, the show welcomed transgender contestants during its third season in the otherwise all-female comp. Earlier this year, an androgynous model also appeared on The Face Men Thailand, the male spin-off of the original show. Kantana studio is gaining momentum in its attempts towards LGBTI inclusivity and visibility.
Generally, Thais are used to images of katoeys and flamboyant transgender showgirls on a cabaret show and beauty pageant like Miss Tiffany's. As for drag queens, the term mostly refers to men who dress and act with exaggerated femininity for the purpose of entertainment and fashion.
In Thailand, we have heard of Thai drag stars like Pangina Heals and Pattaya Hart. It would be interesting to see how drag culture will play out here when Drag Race is finally upon us.
WHAT'S IN A FLOWER
Thai independent gay film Malila (The Farewell Flower) recently won Kim Ji-Seok Awards at Busan International Film Festival.
In Malila, the fragility of love and life, and the themes of morality and Buddhist beliefs, are told through the performances of the two male leads: Thai actors Sukollawat Kanaros and Anuchyd Sapanphong.
The film is directed by Anucha Boonyawatana, who previously was at the helm of the gay-themed Onthakarn (The Blue Hour) in 2015.
According to the film's Facebook page, Malila will be showing in Thai cinemas in early 2018.
THE STAGE OF RAINBOW
Tomorrow is the last day for applicants to register to compete in the Mister Gay World Thailand 2018 competition.
As Mister Gay Thailand, the winner will serve as a representative for the Thai LGBTI and gay community on the international scene. Desirable candidates are people who "feel like a proud gay male" between the ages of 18 and 40, who must also have a sound knowledge on gay rights issues and recent LGBTI events worldwide.
The official website says that the competition is not a beauty pageant, but rather "a quest for the ultimate gay male". Despite saying so, the competition also features a swimsuit round. It also requires applicants to submit photos of themselves in swimwear, plus a full-length shirtless photo, during the registration process.
The final round of the comp will be held on Jan 27 next year at the Thailand LGBT Expo, inside Hall 4, Impact Arena Muang Thong Thani.
For full criteria and online application process, visit mrgaythai.com.
Contact melalinm@bangkokpost.co.th for news and views on LGBTI issues.
