Trans Lecturer Wins Thammasat Discrimination Suit

[snoop1130]

Trans Lecturer Wins Thammasat Discrimination Suit

By Chayanit Itthipongmaetee, Staff Reporter

 

Photo: Kath Khangpiboon / Facebook

 

BANGKOK — International Women’s Day saw a former transgender lecturer prevail in her discrimination suit against the nation’s second oldest university.

 

The Administrative Court on Thursday ruled in favor of Kath Khangpiboon, co-founder of the Thai Transgender Alliance, after judges ruled that Thammasat University’s decision to fire her after several months constituted discrimination.

 

Full Story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/courts/2018/03/08/trans-lecturer-wins-thammasat-discrimination-suit/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2018-3-8

[webfact]

Thammasat U ordered by court to rehire transgender lecturer in ‘Women’s Day win’

By CHULARAT SAENGPASSA 
THE NATION

 

 

THE CENTRAL Administrative Court has ordered Thammasat University to rehire a transgender person as a lecturer.
 

The verdict in favour of Kathawut “Kath” Khangpiboon, which came out yesterday, said the university’s reasons for not hiring her are illegitimate.

 

“Although she might have some impolite words and inappropriate pictures on social media, those actions are not prohibited characteristics for university officials,” the court said in its statement. It overruled Thammasat’s decision, made a few years ago, not to hire Kathawut as a lecturer. 

 

“I hope my case will set a precedent, boosting job opportunities for people of all genders,” Kathawut said.

 

 

At that time, Kathawut had already sailed through the recruitment process and been teaching at the university’s Faculty of Social Administration. Despite the faculty’s approval of her employment, the Thammasat executive board blocked Kathawut from being hired as a permanent lecturer. 

 

Kathawut took the case before the Central Administrative Court, which ruled yesterday that Thammasat must sign an employment contract with her within 60 days of the ruling. 

 

However, the court dismissed Kathawut’s request for compensation of Bt363,000 plus Bt23,700 a month to cover the cost of lost opportunities since the day she filed a complaint. 

 

Thammasat can appeal the decision within 30 days. 

 

“If it rehires me, I will definitely go back. I have intended to work as a lecturer all along,” she said. 

 

While Kathawut suspected that Thammasat was biased against her for her gender identity, the court yesterday said the case was not about gender. Thammasat staff had said they had concerns that Kathawut’s social-media style was inappropriate and might hurt the university’s image. 

 

National Human Rights Commissioner member Angkhana Neelaphaijit, who was in court to observe the case, said: “This case underlines the rights and equality of people, regardless of their age or gender.” 

 

Chumaporn Tangkliang, a core member of the Togetherness for Equality and Action Group, which has been promoting the rights of LGBT people, said the public response to Kathawut’s case was amazing. 

 

“They don’t see Kath as a transgender, but more like a woman,” Chumaporn said. “The verdict in favour of Kath is seen as a victory on International Women’s Day.” 

 

Sitting inside the courtroom with Kathawut, Chumaporn said she had seen an open-mindedness and liberal attitude in the court. 

 

“For example, the court does not see Kath’s social-media posts as unethical. Those posts are not public. They are information Kath has shared with friends,” Chumaporn said. 

 

She added that the court had also dismissed Thammasat’s suggestion that Kathawut’s social-media complaints about having to wear trousers during a training course reflected that she was not suitable for a teaching job.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30340515

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-03-09

[harada]

Fright night.

[Darcula]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Thammasat U ordered by court to rehire transgender lecturer in ‘Women’s Day win’

 

Instead of spinning the "women's day" angle, how about just saying it's a win for transgenders?

[Eligius]

What gets me is the utter hypocrisy and schizoid nature of Thai society: on the one hand there are probably more transgender people here (very openly) than almost anywhere else on earth, and yet on the other hand the university authorities regard them as a 'contaminant' of Thai students. I know of one university in BKK which will happily employ transgender lecturers on a part-time basis but will not take them full-time - as they might exert an immoral influence over the students! 

 

Such sickening hypocrisy and illogicality. Either you employ transgenders or you don't. But Thailand speaks out of two different corners of its mouth at one and the same time (here as in so much else). 

[PremiumLane]

1 hour ago, harada said:

Fright night.

Is that what the kids in the sois shout at you? 

[Krataiboy]

Never mind at that principled nonsense. Which bathroom will he/she use?

[Krataiboy]

Probably just asking for Stormy Daniels' phone number.

[Kieran00001]

1 hour ago, Darcula said:

 

Instead of spinning the "women's day" angle, how about just saying it's a win for transgenders?

 

Hardly a spin, the verdict was on women's day, therefor a women's day win.

[Krataiboy]

Just now, Kieran00001 said:

 

Hardly a spin, the verdict was on women's day, therefor a women's day win.

Only if you believe "Kath" is a woman.

[Kieran00001]

2 hours ago, Krataiboy said:

Only if you believe "Kath" is a woman.

 

No, it happened on Women's day, that made it a Women's day win, if it happened on Christmas day it would be a Christmas day win regardless of whether or not you believe in Santa.

[Kieran00001]

2 hours ago, Krataiboy said:

Never mind at that principled nonsense. Which bathroom will he/she use?

 

You ask based on your principles.