Thammasat University reinstates transgender lecturer

Thammasat University reinstates transgender lecturer

By Pratch Rujivanarom 
The Nation

Thammasat University has complied with an Administrative Court verdict and agreed to rehire transgender lecturer Kathawut “Kath” Khangpiboon within 60 days.
 

Thammasat University on Monday announced that the university’s managing committee unanimously decided to accept Kathawut back to work as a lecturer at the Faculty of Social Administration. The university committee had earlier revoked her employment contract because of an “unethical” post on social media, which sparked the lawsuit between Thammasat University and Kathawut.

Prinya Thaewanarumitkul, vice-rector for administration and sustainability, said that a “new ensemble” of the university’s managing committee had reconsidered the decision on Kathawut’s employment and concluded via a “landslide vote” to rehire her as a permanent lecturer.

The university has also decided not to appeal the judgement to the Supreme Administrative Court.

Prinya said the Faculty of Social Administration would arrange a new teaching position for Kathawut within 60 days as per the judgment of Administrative Court. She would be welcomed back to work as a lecturer, as she had previously passed the recruitment process for this position.

“I would like to assure everyone that Thammasat University fully supports gender equality and sexual diversity, and that the former ensemble of the university committee did not revoke her employment contract because of her gender identity,” he said.

But, he added, “the committee viewed that she was unfit for the position because of her impolite words and inappropriate pictures on social media”.

He said the new university committee agreed with the court that these inappropriate posts should not have prohibited her from holding a position at the university.

Kathawut said she was pleased with the decision to welcome her back to work and she pledged to dedicate her knowledge and experience to teaching students.

She also said that despite her recent participation with the founding of the Future Forward political party, she still primarily wanted to work in the academic field.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30341253

 

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