Showing 1 - 10 of 12
One step forward, two steps back
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 29/11/2021
» Local courts fail to follow Taiwan's lead in granting LGBTI marriage rights, transphobia remains a concern
Progress and setbacks
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 21/12/2020
» This year has seen a lot of development regarding LGBTI communities in Thailand, around the world, and even on-screen, and although Covid-19 has led to more stigma and discrimination, there were still victories in some places
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.
Equality falls short
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 27/07/2020
» Push to legalise same-sex civil partnerships a step in the right direction but work still remains to ensure LGBTI have the same rights as everyone else
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.
Some cause for celebration
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 27/05/2019
» The LGBTI community has much to cheer this month, even in Thailand's much-maligned new parliament
The politics of change
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 18/03/2019
» It is less than a week until the much-anticipated general election. For the first time in the history of Thailand, we are seeing a huge turnout of LGBTI candidates from different professions and backgrounds, jumping on the political bandwagon and representing sexual diversity. Out and proud, many of them are standing as candidates or are working with political parties in order to make their voices heard.
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.
Inspired by love
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 20/06/2018
» Oestrogen hormone gel, taxidermied moth, Braille paper, instant photography, colourful strokes mixing acrylic, oil and charcoal -- all of this makes up Thai abstract artist Sudaporn Teja's latest conceptual collection, "LGBTQ: Loves Get Better With Time Quietly", now on display at Serindia Gallery in Charoen Krung.