Showing 1 - 10 of 13
Humanity vs nature
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 16/12/2019
» 'Let's go to Khao Yai," a friend recently suggested via text. Along with her invitation, she attached a picture of a woman sitting amid beautiful flowers, clouded with faded hipster filter. It was an online review saying a blossoming garden in a Khao Yai resort was now open to all visitors for free. The sight of the gorgeous winter flowers drew me in. I said yes.
The eyes can lie
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 05/08/2019
» Thai people are considerably kind. We like making merit to help unfortunate souls. And especially in an era when everyone can easily connect through social media, the ways of merit-making have changed and expanded even further. From previously making physical donations at temples and charities, people now reach out to help individuals -- many times a stranger -- they see online. Pictures of sick dogs, cats, humans, or even a call for blood donations appear on our Facebook feeds often on a weekly basis. The plea for help -- coupled with touching stories and photos -- always tugs at our heartstrings. And it doesn't take long for many of us to lend a helping hand, mostly through making a swift donation to help with the cause.
Open letter on inclusivity
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 11/03/2019
» How would you like your ice cream? Do you like it with cherry on top? Or whipped cream?
Waiting for justice
Oped, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 12/02/2018
» Making headlines this month is yet another scandal about the rich and powerful with their hands caught in a cookie jar. No, this is not the 26th watch — or would that be the 100th? — in Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwon’s I-borrow-them-from-my-dead-friends saga. Nor is it the 300 million-baht loan to ex-police chief Somyot Poompunmuang. This time, a man has been caught with his fingerprints on a rifle, sitting in a forest next to protected wildlife carcasses.
When the floods come, and leadership sinks
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 13/11/2017
» Are you aware that parts of the country is submerged? Yes? No? Sort of? It's been a busy month on our newsfeed. Bodyslam's frontman Toon is raising millions from his cross-country run, gaining praise (and criticism) from the good cause. And what else is on the news? The shopping tax break? The junta's new set of questions?
Sexual harassment of men
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 14/08/2017
» It's not often we associate a singing concert with sexual harassment, but that certainly happened with Workpoint's popular show The Mask Singer Season 2 last Thursday.
Man versus dog
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 22/05/2017
» Last week, a concerned father took to Facebook asking for justice for his seven-year-old daughter who was bitten by a stray dog. The incident took place on Koh Samui and the girl was immediately taken to hospital where she received injections to prevent tetanus and rabies. A big gash on her thigh meant she had to miss the first week of school.
Conforming to outrageous type
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 18/01/2016
» Queer men are fun. I think that's the general consensus many can agree on, no matter how stereotypical that claim may sound. Look at the rainbow glam, the pride marches and the fancy parades. They are often the stars of the party. They dance with passion. They bring a big, entertaining laugh to TV shows. That's how queer men are often portrayed, very stereotypically so by the Thai media.
Graduating with a sense of freedom
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 10/11/2015
» Come graduation season in Thailand, the topic that often pops up on the public radar usually concerns LGBT students and their graduation uniforms. While some universities now allow trans students to dress according to their gender identity, many others still hold on to the ancient rule that dictates males wear trousers and females skirts. Even on a special day like graduation, there's no exception to the rules.
This is not a trans world
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 04/09/2015
» Most Thai people just can't grasp the term "transman". Although compared to other Asian countries we are considerably more open when it comes to gender diversity, our knowledge of the LGBT spectrum is still quite limited. Transwomen (or katoey) are a vibrant fixture in our society. Tomboys and lesbians are also quite accepted (or tolerated, as some would argue). But, when it comes to transmen -- those born as females but who identify as male -- they are not as visible in this country.