Chuwit Out To Get The Gay Vote

[george]

Chuwit out to get the gay vote

Proposes to create a `homosexual zone'

BANGKOK: -- Massage parlour tycoon Chuwit Kamolvisit is wooing the gay vote, by promising to develop a ``homosexual zone'' in Bangkok.

Speaking at the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce yesterday, Mr Chuwit said he would develop a homosexual community like the Greenwich Village in New York, where homosexuals could organise activities.

There would be an exhibition centre, restaurants, cafes and a gay study centre to foster understanding between gays and the general public.

A gay study centre is among the demands homosexual organisations have proposing to governor hopefuls. They want the centre to be a source of information to teach young homosexuals to understand themselves.

They have also sought permission for experienced homosexuals to visit 400 schools of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to teach gay students how to behave in society.

``Many youths know that they are gay but society forces them to dress like men and get married to women. Finally they cannot resist their own nature and end up with a divorce, which ruins families. So we would like the new Bangkok governor to accept this group of people,'' said Nathee Theerarochanapong from a gay group.

Homosexual organisations are inviting people who plan to contest the governorship in August, to propose what they intend to do regarding gay rights.

Another request is for the new Bangkok governor to support the annual Bangkok Gay Festival and the Lesla Festival (of lesbians) and to campaign for safe sex among homosexuals.

``The Bangkok Gay Festival has been organised for six years. It is a big event where some 10,000 gays from various nations gather, but the state, especially Mr Samak [sundaravej], the current governor, did not answer our phone calls when we asked for cooperation. He even slammed it as a festival of sissies and that no one should get involved with it,'' said Pakorn Pimthon, the festival organiser.

Manthana Adisayathepkul from Lesla group said 10% or about 6.5 million of the Thai population were gay. In Bangkok, there were at least 100,000 lesbians ready to vote for the candidate willing to support them, she said.

--The Post 2004-07-06