Re: "An open letter on inclusivity", (Life, March 12).
Melalin Mahavongtrakul, in her reaction to the purportedly transphobic, seems to be confused about key notions of sexual orientation, biological sex, gender identity and social acceptance. Social acceptance of trangender women (biological men who self-identify as women), i.e. treating them socially as women, does not mean that heterosexual men should be legally or socially obligated to be sexually attracted to them. i.e. to another biological man, and that those who don't are somehow transphobic. They are just not attracted to biological males. Shouldn't sexual orientation be free?
Likewise, social acceptance of sexual orientation (accepting your gay children or lesbian couples) has no relation to transgender issues.
Indeed, many prominent lesbian groups and personalities, not to mention feminists, consider that women are biological women and do not accept transgender women as "women". Women also have the right to defend their identity as women.
There are many different flavours of ice-cream for all tastes, and it is very good, but you cannot force-feed any specific flavour to anybody. I don't like durian ice-cream. This does not make me durianphobic or wanting to ban durian ice-cream.
Baffled Reader
Abhisit no 'Mr Clean'
Re: "PPRP left reeling by Abhisit", (BP, March 12).
Democrat Party boss Abhisit Vejjajiva turned on Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha and will oppose his bid to become prime minister. Mr Abhisit, till now a "Mr Clean", has demonstrated just how valuable a politician's word is, and just how much a politician's word can be trusted. He is a self-serving politico, out to protect his own interests.
Mr Abhisit is no different than the rest of the pack. Careful, Mr Abhisit. I wouldn't want Gen Prayut as an enemy. Whatever the election outcome, I do hope Gen Prayut will be around to clean up the mess once the bickering starts on March 25.
Marigold
Riding roughshod
Re: "Passengers allowed in back of Songkran pickups", (BP, March 11).
Ahh, another ultra-brilliant permissible decree by the police. People will be allowed to ride in the backs of pickup trucks for the days leading up to Songkran.
I wonder if they'll permit people to ride on the roofs of SRT trains, and intercity buses like they do in India. There needs to be a first for everything in Thailand. I'm sure that the police haven't thought of it, yet. They soon might. Go for it guys. Death is a means of population control.
David James Wong
Amnesty jumps gun
Re: "Foreigners get TRC case all wrong", (Opinion, March 11).
I agree with Veera Prateepchaikul that Amnesty International's Thailand branch appears to have jumped the gun when its campaigner Katherine Gerson on March 7 voiced her "concerns" over the dissolution of the Thai Raksa Chart Party.
"This decision highlights the Thai authorities' abuse of judicial powers to restrict the peaceful association and expression of the political opposition. This far-reaching measure raises strong concerns about the human rights to freedom of association and expression in the period leading to the elections…"
Instead of voicing its "concerns" in such a knee-jerk fashion, Amnesty should have studied the Thai constitution, especially the part that stipulates the monarchy must always be regarded as above politics. Whoever is behind TRC is trying to wedge between Thais.
Vint Chavala
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