Violent beating caught on camera, transgender beauty queen and gender affirming surgery, in our monthly round-up of LGBT news.
ACTS OF VIOLENCE
One of the most talked about news stories in Thailand last week involved a tom beating up her girlfriend. A video clip of the scene later went viral. Kanchana Sinprasert, 27, the tom in question, was soon arrested and brought into custody, in which she claimed she was drunk and was in a fit of jealousy during the violent incident.
The public is enraged, to say the least. Kanchana was quickly nicknamed tom hode, or the cruel tom. The comment section under the news story is filled with nasty retorts, criticism, cursive words and, above all, threats. A threat to "cure" homosexuality and a fix to "turn" the tom straight. A belief of many men is that they can turn gay women straight with sex. These comments usually appear whenever stories concerning lesbians are reported, regardless of the topic of discussion that may range from an assault to a same-sex wedding.
These threats, unfortunately, are quite well received online. They may seem a joke. A boastful (and cruel) taunt aimed at teaching someone a lesson, to exert the power of patriarchy on what they perceive as the weaker sex. But what does it end up reflecting about people's attitude on gender identity and diversity? That many seem to condone a hate crime against a person based on their sexuality? Violence that people pass off and normalise as simply a joke even when it alludes to forced sexual intercourse and other forms of rape?
It's no joke, in reality, as many gay women face the threat of sexual assault from even those who are close to them in a belief that experiencing "the real thing" -- a man's penis -- would be able to cure their homosexuality.
This attack, while in a verbal form, can be destructive as it perpetuates violence and hate against a person's sexuality. And the attack on an individual quickly spreads to an entire community, when it's really uncalled for. Quit the rage, please. By all means, do continue criticising a person's actions but stop attacking their sexuality. Don't be a part of spreading the violence.
CROWNING INCLUSIVITY
It's been one month since Angela Ponce became the first transgender woman to be crowned Miss Universe Spain, and will also be the first trans to enter the final Miss Universe competition at the end of this year. The Miss Universe pageant made a policy change to allow transgender women to compete five years ago.
Her news of victory was met with both glee and dismay from worldwide audiences, bringing about the discussion of whether transgender and cisgender people should be allowed to compete in the same comp, vying for the same title once again.
In Thailand, we previously had a similar discussion when the model-seeking TV show The Face Thailand allowed transgender women to compete in the previously all-female show during its third season in 2016. Internationally, shows from the "Top Model" franchise preceded us in opening doors to transgender contestants. Olympics also allow transgender athletes. Of course, the topic of transgender people in sports may require another debate altogether, especially regarding what many perceive as the unfair advantage in their physicality.
Is it equality? Is it unfair competition? Discussing it in the context of a beauty contest, however, why should that be a problem when all women are different and unique in their own ways? Adding transgender women may add to the diversity and inclusivity of the pageant. Being allowed to participate signifies an acceptance that they're entitled to the same treatment and rights as any women -- that they are accepted as women, too.
Still, the chance to qualify for the Miss Universe pageant seems to depend on the laws of each country. In Spain, transgender persons are allowed to change their legal gender, which then allowed Ponce to be accepted into the pageant. Miss Universe Thailand, on the other hand, explicitly states on its website that applicants have to be "female by birth" as one requirement to enter the contest. Countries that have yet to have gender recognition laws will have to wait a little longer if they want to see transgender beauty queens strutting on the Universe stage.
LGBT SNIPPETS
- Thailand's National Health Security Office (NHSO) recently announced that intersex people can now get gender affirming surgery under the state's Universal Healthcare Coverage (UC) programme, mostly referred to as the "gold card" programme. Intersex is generally a term used to describe a person born with genital ambiguity or variation of sex characteristics -- from chromosome to sex hormones -- that don't correspond to the typical definition of male and female bodies.
- The debate on non-LGBTI actors and actresses taking on the role of LGBTI characters have been a frequent discussion in recent years as the accusations over Hollywood stealing the narratives on LGBTI people continue. The latest subject of this discussion is none other than Scarlett Johansson who, after much controversy, decided to drop out from the film Rub & Tug, in which she was initially set to play a transgender man. In her statement on Out.com, ScarJo said she understood where this criticism was coming from, acknowledging that her earlier remark regarding the topic may have been insensitive. While some applauded the actress's eventual sensitivity and generosity, others viewed she was "bullied" out of her role. We will wait and see who will take her place, as well as in which direction the project will now continue.
- It was announced at the Comic-Con International in San Diego that transgender activist and actress Nicole Maines has been cast as a transgender superhero, the first of its kind on TV. She will join the fourth season of Supergirl as Nia Nal, also known as the superhero Dreamer. In 2014, the up-and-coming actress won a lawsuit against her school district after she was prohibited from using the girl's bathroom at school. The series is set to air in October.
Contact melalinm@bangkokpost.co.th for news and views of LGBTI.
