Showing 1 - 10 of 101
Clash of opinions
Oped, Postbag, Published on 03/04/2024
» Re: "Thaksin's influence no longer potent", (Opinion, April 1). I disagree with columnist Veera Prateepchaikul on two points. First, the convict Thaksin Shinawatra does remain influential: he powerfully taints every figure and institution that recklessly associates itself with him; that is a potent influence.
Gender diversity is good for business
News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 11/03/2024
» A timely issue raised by a recent forum of key businesses, political leaders and civil society was the potential for more inclusion of LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) people in the workplace. This is complementary to the other critically important issue of the day: the role of women in business and employment.
Mass shootings are a problem for big business, too
News, Published on 20/02/2024
» Last Wednesday's shooting at the Kansas City Super Bowl parade, which killed one person and injured more than 20, was the 49th mass shooting this year in the US We are barely halfway through February.
Govt kindles same-sex marriage hopes
News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 23/11/2023
» The top of the executive branch has given a welcome signal that it will fast-track in parliament a law to recognise same-sex marriage in Thailand.
Breaking gender barriers in the clergy
Oped, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 22/07/2023
» Can queers be ordained as Buddhist monks? The question sparked intense debates on social media when Pataradanai Setsuwan, a well-known openly gay celebrity, entered the monkhood late last month.
Conditional inclusivity just the first step
Oped, Published on 14/06/2023
» Earlier this month, the Bangkok Pride parade drew a slew of rights defenders and supporters -- LGBTQ activists, politicians, ambassadors, international organisations, and businessmen. It took place under a fresh political atmosphere given the recent victory of the pro-democracy parties in the May 14 election. If these parties are allowed to govern, the future for the LGBTQ community is promising. However, before the marriage equality bill passed the first reading, it was strongly criticised, especially for supporting "unnatural behaviour".
Thai HIV response faces setback
Oped, Published on 21/02/2023
» Thailand was a model for how a country should respond to the HIV epidemic. Whenever there was an HIV innovation -- whether it be a drug or a behavioural approach -- Thailand would be one of the first countries to adopt it. This began with the 100% Condom Programme in the early 1990s and continued all the way to 2016, when WHO declared that Thailand was the first country in Asia to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of both HIV and syphilis, an impressive feat many countries are still hard-pressed to mimic. Thailand became one of the first middle-income countries in 2014 to embrace pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) by supporting community-based organisations (CBOs) to test key populations, such as men who have sex with men and transgendered individuals, for HIV and provide this critical drug to them.
Equality still a dream
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 09/01/2023
» In the lead-up to its second reading, the civil partnership draft bill marks a decade since its inception, dating back to a gay couple who were denied legal recognition in 2012 because the law limits marriage to a man and a woman. Given the conservatism of earlier decades, civil partnership was "the first brick" at a time when marriage equality was almost inconceivable. However, history is often ignored. Despite its long journey in conjunction with the new bill, the uphill push for marriage rights will remain an unfinished business under the current government.
Apec's echo
Oped, Postbag, Published on 24/11/2022
» Re: "Nuan is the cat's whiskers at Apec", (PostScript, Nov 20).
An ugly side to the beautiful game
News, Published on 15/11/2022
» When the World Cup kicks off next weekend, a Western sense of fair play will be outraged that a country without any native tradition in the game has won the right to host the tournament through financial muscle. Insult is added to injury too -- due to Qatar's extreme temperatures, the World Cup isn't being staged during the usual summer break but in November, disrupting domestic soccer competitions in the northern hemisphere for six weeks. Fans and players just have to lump it.