Showing 1 - 7 of 7
Culture of rape
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 01/06/2020
» A recent rape case in Mukdahan province shocked the entire nation when it was brought to light that two underage female students were raped by five teachers and two school alumni. While the case was devastating on its own, it was all the more enraging when some netizens showed outright support to the perpetrators and shifted blame to the young victims.
Pandemic heightening discrimination against LGBTI
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 25/05/2020
» It's May. Normally, we would have had a big celebration this month for the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, which falls on May 17 annually. But, of course, with Covid-19 still running rampant, the activities and commemorations have migrated online. Several organisations held a Facebook Live session to discuss the situation they are facing in their communities to reflect this year's theme, "Breaking The Silence". And silence, indeed, must be broken, especially when the pandemic has taken the heaviest toll on vulnerable populations.
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.
Of loss and triumph
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 28/10/2019
» A flat joke on TV, films on katoeys make the national heritage list, and other happenings in the LGBTI community in the past month.
Stop the attacks, both physical and verbal
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 30/07/2018
» Violent beating caught on camera, transgender beauty queen and gender affirming surgery, in our monthly round-up of LGBT news.
The scourge of fake news
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 09/07/2018
» Last week before the 12 boys and their football coach trapped in Tham Luang cave had been located, dubious online news sources proclaimed they had been found, prompting cheers on Facebook -- only to be dismissed minutes later. The next day, the cycle repeated. Later in the week, there was even "news" of a body being found, believed to be one of the boys. It spread and was later snuffed, since it simply wasn't true.
A view on the new zoo
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 03/01/2018
» When news broke last month that Thailand's oldest zoo, Dusit Zoo, will be relocated from its present location in inner Bangkok to a new home in Pathum Thani province, it sent shock waves through the hearts of generations of Bangkokians. Back before shopping malls, cinemas, skating rinks, aquariums and wax museums took over as the capital's popular destinations, Dusit Zoo was a favourite attraction for the entire family -- a place where countless such families have had their photographs taken.