Flashes of rainbow colours as students call for equality

[webfact]

Flashes of rainbow colours as students call for equality

By THE NATION

 

 

A group of students held their first “pride parade” in Thailand by marching nearly two kilometres from the Nitas Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall on Wednesday (July 29) to the Education Ministry to demand equality for their LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) peers.

 

 

 

Several members also symbolically cut their hair or removed their male students’ uniforms to reveal a blouse and skirt underneath. They called on the ministry to revise the contents of health-education textbooks, saying the content is outdated and does not cover topics such as different sexual orientations, which leads to people misunderstanding the LGBTQ group.

 

 

The ministry’s permanent secretary Prasert Boonreung accepted the petition from the group’s representative before they dispersed peacefully.

 

 

Full story: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30392102

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-07-29

 

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[Justgrazing]

8 minutes ago, webfact said:

Several members also symbolically cut their hair or removed their male students’ uniforms to reveal a blouse and skirt underneath

 

9 minutes ago, webfact said:

The ministry’s permanent secretary Prasert Boonreung accepted the petition from the group’s representative before

taking his whistle & flute off to reveal a Basque , 'spenders and fine grade fishnets .. 

[stouricks]

Most of those students do not look old enough to know where to put what!    LOL  555    PML

Edited July 29, 2020 by stouricks

[nausea]

Cool; ah, to be young and idealistic. Thailand has always had this kind of strange relationship with the non-gender conforming. Hard to explain - accepted in one way, not in another.

[webfact]

Thai students rally over gender rights, uniforms and haircut rules

By Jiraporn Kuhakan

 

Members of a youth pride student group hold an LGBT flag during a rally for gender rights in Bangkok, Thailand July 29, 2020. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Dozens of students rallied in Thailand on Wednesday to demand from the government greater gender rights and an end to what they called outdated curriculum and discriminatory rules on uniforms and haircuts.

 

Onlookers in Bangkok cheered and applauded as students of mixed ages carrying placards and banners and rainbow flags, fans and umbrellas marched to the education ministry in protest at a school system they said was far behind the times. The group included secondary school pupils and some older students.

 

They took aim in particular at rules that prescribe specific hair length and styles for male and female students.

 

"What about students of other genders? This is something the ministry needs to consider because it is normal to be diverse," said Panupong Suwannahong, 19, a protest organiser.

 

"The school uniform segregates the students' genders."

 

The demonstration comes amid an increase in student-led political protests in Thailand in recent weeks. The group, however, said it had no ties to an anti-government movement.

 

On the steps of the ministry and in front of its permanent secretary, student Pimchanok Nongnual, 19, shaved her hair with electric clippers in protest at "suffocating" gender rules.

 

"What about gender fluid or non-binary students?" said Pimchanok.

 

Although it is a largely conservative Buddhist society, Thailand has a reputation for openness and free-wheeling attitudes and has a vibrant lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) social scene.

 

Its cabinet backed a civil partnership bill on July 8 to recognise same-sex unions with almost the same legal rights as married couples, in one of Thailand's most liberal moves yet.

 

However, activists say its education system is reluctant to respond to changing attitudes. Nattapat Satavelarot, 17, tore up a textbook on health and hygiene, rejecting what he called a discriminatory curriculum.

 

"I want teachers to be educated about LBGTQ rights and they need to understand that students consisting of many genders is not a taboo," Nattapat said.

 

(Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Peter Graff)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-07-30

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[yellowboat]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Although it is a largely conservative Buddhist society, Thailand has a reputation for openness and free-wheeling attitudes and has a vibrant lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) social scene.

Really?  YOu learn something new everyday. 

[rupert the bear]

thailand is fully discriminatory in regards to gay and trans people.no doubt about that,theres many beautiful well educated trans girls that cant find employment.school uniforms though,ummm if a student is gay they still need to wear the uniform appropriate to their gender and if trans they must be allowed to wear the uniform of the sex that they are now.haircuts umm im not sure but a uniform is designed for the reason students look the same IE if you have a rich background you look as a poor student does so no discrimination in that regard too.theres an awful lot of discrimination about rich and poor here too ,go ask tonglor cops!!

[Geoffggi]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

"The school uniform segregates the students' genders."

Errrr yes, generally boys don't look too good in skirts and what about teaching a little discipline, if I'm not mistaken dress code was brought in as a way of making everyone equal so what is so bad about that ...?? 

[CorpusChristie]

15 minutes ago, rupert the bear said:

if a student is gay they still need to wear the uniform appropriate to their gender

Why would a gay man want to wear females clothes ? 

[Yinn]

I think not necessary. Most not care if you man, woman, Tom, dee, katoey, gay . Up to you.

I have freinds all seven. 

 

Only some old man care about that, not much. Why care there opinion? Not there business.

 

Lefty nonsense copy the western countrys. 

 

 

[Geoffggi]

Once again Yinn missing the point, the discussion is about school children not if people have friends who are gay, lesbian etc. these days I believe most people have friends from all cross sections .......!!!

Edited July 30, 2020 by Geoffggi

[Peter Denis]

15 minutes ago, Yinn said:

I think not necessary. Most not care if you man, woman, Tom, dee, katoey, gay king or gay queen. Up to you.

I have freinds all seven. 

 

Only some old man care about that, not much. Why care there opinion? Not there business.

 

Lefty nonsense copy the western countrys.

First time that I read a Yinn post that made me say; Hmmm, finally she has written something sensible...

But then of course you had to blow it with your last xenophobic fascist remark.

 

[CorpusChristie]

1 minute ago, Peter Denis said:

First time that I read a Yinn post that made me say; Hmmm, finally she has written something sensible...

But then of course you had to blow it with your last xenophobic fascist remark.

 

Could you explain why you feel that her remark was "fascist"?

[Peter Denis]

7 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said:

Could you explain why you feel that her remark was "fascist"?

Lefty nonsense... the far right isn't renowned for their tolerance on gender issues. 

[CorpusChristie]

5 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

Lefty nonsense... the far right isn't renowned for their tolerance on gender issues. 

But how does that make Yinns post "fascist" ?

 

[Yinn]

19 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

First time that I read a Yinn post that made me say; Hmmm, finally she has written something sensible...

But then of course you had to blow it with your last xenophobic fascist remark.

 

You miss the point. I not fascist.

 

IMO the lefty against the hard right argue everything is nonsense. It make trouble. Argue stupid thing so much. For what? 

Immature.

 

Ideology. Is stupid. Left and right. 

 

Ps.

One question please. Is anti vaxxer lefty or right. 

Is different in different country? 

Look like UK anti vaxxer is lefty. In USA is hard right? 

I confused a bit. 

 

 

[mrfill]

16 minutes ago, Yinn said:

You miss the point. I not fascist.

 

IMO the lefty against the hard right argue everything is nonsense. It make trouble. Argue stupid thing so much. For what? 

Immature.

 

Ideology. Is stupid. Left and right. 

 

Ps.

One question please. Is anti vaxxer lefty or right. 

Is different in different country? 

Look like UK anti vaxxer is lefty. In USA is hard right? 

I confused a bit. 

 

 

The whole concept of left and right politics is about 60 years out of date. Things have moved on and the division now is between those a better quality of life for all and those wanting more money for the few.

You'd also be hard pushed to find a UK anti vaxxer of any persuasion. There's only a loud few.

[Peter Denis]

16 minutes ago, Yinn said:

You miss the point. I not fascist.

 

IMO the lefty against the hard right argue everything is nonsense. It make trouble. Argue stupid thing so much. For what? 

Immature.

 

Ideology. Is stupid. Left and right. 

 

Ps.

One question please. Is anti vaxxer lefty or right. 

Is different in different country? 

Look like UK anti vaxxer is lefty. In USA is hard right? 

I confused a bit.

Yes, you have pro- and anti-vaxxers on both sides of the political spectrum.

But this thread was about gender tolerance, and there it is generally the 'left' that leans towards tolerance and the 'right' that have a less tolerant view.  I write 'generally' because it isn't a Black or White binary thing.  So on some issues I agree with people that I strongly disagree with on other issues.  And the harsh words 'idiot, stupid, ignorant' I only use when provoked by someone using that same language on an issue I disagree with.   

 

[SomchaiCNX]

2 hours ago, yellowboat said:

Really?  YOu learn something new everyday. 

You must have been living under a stone for last couple decades. Yes they are very very very open compared to my home country in Europe, US, Russia, the middle east and many African countries.

[Heppinger]

7 hours ago, nausea said:

Cool; ah, to be young and idealistic. Thailand has always had this kind of strange relationship with the non-gender conforming. Hard to explain - accepted in one way, not in another.

Yeah cos there is nothing strange happening in western countries, easy to explain.

 

https://christiannews.net/2018/11/24/good-morning-america-promotes-11-year-old-drag-child-desmond-is-amazing/

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, yellowboat said:

Really?  YOu learn something new everyday. 

Take a walk around some of Thailands night spots and you'll learn a lot more than you ever though possible.

[Bender Rodriguez]

I will never be OK that a boy/man will go and use the girls toilet, if appendage is not removed

[kingstonkid]

2 hours ago, mrfill said:

The whole concept of left and right politics is about 60 years out of date. Things have moved on and the division now is between those a better quality of life for all and those wanting more money for the few.

You'd also be hard pushed to find a UK anti vaxxer of any persuasion. There's only a loud few.

I strongly disagree about left and right.  The world is more divided in a left and right political bent.  Just look at the other countries.

 

As to the demands about students gender,  Teaching in school there I was aware that I had students of the 4 different areas and just lived with it.  I also found that the students themselves had no issues.  I agree that there may be some schools that may not be with the times but as society ages this will disappear.

 

The uniforms are the best thing that you could have in a thai school.  If you get rid of the uniforms then you start to have parents require more money for clothes for their kids you also get the competition and the distraction of those that have and those that have not.

 

 

[apophyss]

In all country, young people are so easy to manipulate with "nice ideas" (but a lobby behind : just for $$$).

 

When you studend, you are there for study, not for politiqual and not for sexuality (you to young for that)

[PETERTHEEATER]

Oh no! Please don't change the prescribed Thai female student uniform. As a geriatric asthma sufferer its the only thing that improves my breathing........????

 

[chilli42]

8 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

Errrr yes, generally boys don't look too good in skirts and what about teaching a little discipline, if I'm not mistaken dress code was brought in as a way of making everyone equal so what is so bad about that ...?? 

Uniforms are just a part of the overall brainwashing one receives at school.  The goal of the Thai school system, similar to most, is to produce literate robots who will follow orders for the benefit mainly of the corporations.  So are uniforms about making everyone equal ... yes.  Equally mindless and compliant workers

[AKJeff]

21 hours ago, Yinn said:

 

 

Ps.

One question please. Is anti vaxxer lefty or right. 

Is different in different country? 

Look like UK anti vaxxer is lefty. In USA is hard right? 

I confused a bit. 

 

 

The answer is a little off topic but in the US anti vaxxers are more left than right (not by much).  But the left has more big celebrities behind them.  But they're people on both sides of the political spectrum that disagree with vaccines.   The sides often have different reasoning behind their opposition though. 

 

https://www.precisionvaccinations.com/childhood-vaccination-programs-should-be-exempt-political-bias

[briansbiology]

I came across a gay parade (mostly ladyboys) a few years back near Koh San. At first I thought it was great the attentions they were getting. the crowd cheered and laughed and I heard enough comments to realize that is wasn't the somber support they were maybe hoping for but a weird mix of acceptance and ridicule. Thais love ladyboys but mostly as oddities to be ogled.