Showing 1 - 10 of 11
Class is in session
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 10/05/2023
» Last Saturday, a crowd of children with their families, as well as politicians and their supporters, braved the blistering summer heat to gather at the "Candidate Classroom" event where representatives of six political parties discussed Thai education and the rights of children within schools. Styled as a game show, "Candidate Classroom" saw politicians face off in a lively debate with cheers, boos and music filling the One Arena at Stadium One in Bangkok.
Looking to a hopeful future with Pride
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 30/05/2022
» Election of inclusive Bangkok governor, return of famed pageant point to good times ahead
Light flickers in US, fades in Thailand
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 30/11/2020
» For a good part of November, the world was gripped by a tumultuous fanfare that is the US election. And even before the very last votes were counted, relief and joy were already felt in many communities, not only in America but perhaps across the world. For better or for worse, Donald Trump's reign is coming to an end, and the world now looks to President-elect Joe Biden in the hopes that his win will let voices from the marginalised LGBTI community become louder. Biden promised to enact the Equality Act, a civil rights law that will protect LGBTI people from discrimination within his first 100 days in office among other things.
A kiss is still a kiss
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 23/12/2019
» What's a better way to send off 2019 than a big smooch? The gay kiss at parliament last week shook the entire country. Outcries about the inappropriateness of such a public display of affection at a "sacred" place were loud. The symbolic expression was met with polarising responses, even from LGBTI people themselves. Even liberal politicians who called for equal rights apologised for it. Honestly, saying sorry for a kiss seems ironic under a roof where far worse things have taken place. Unfortunately, the public reaction has been mostly negative. The message was inadvertently lost, and many people forgot why the couple kissed in the first place: to advocate for marriage equality.
The song remains the same
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 26/08/2019
» It seems as if each day brings new challenges for the LGBTI community in Thailand. So what's new (or old) this month?
Teens, queens and political machines
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 25/02/2019
» More LGBTI personalities in politics and the mainstream media, plus the return of a transgender beauty pageant in our monthly round-up of rainbow news.
Beyond beauty
B Magazine, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 16/12/2018
» The universe will have a new queen tomorrow. For almost 20 days, 94 beauty queens from around the world have descended on Thailand to vie for the crown. They have participated in the pageant's activities in Bangkok, Chon Buri and Krabi that brought them to a rooftop bar, temples, Government House and beaches, and tomorrow morning at 7am, one will be crowned the new Miss Universe by current title-holder Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters.
Keep on keeping on
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 28/11/2018
» A decade has passed since Thailand initiated its legal fight for the rights of LGBTI people. To commemorate the occasion, local LGBTI, non-binary and civil-society organisations will be hosting an event at Chulalongkorn University tomorrow.
They know who they are
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 26/11/2018
» In the dim light inside Bangkok Screening Room, Ivan Coyote transfixed the crowd with stories of their childhood, of grandmas and uncles, and of the conversations our dinner group had at the Isan restaurant around the corner from the venue.
