Showing 1 - 10 of 37
Laugh, paint, heal
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 10/02/2025
» Happy squeals and laughter from almost 50 young children filled a cosy village hall on a recent Sunday morning in Wiang Kaen district, Chiang Rai. They were pointing at a man dressed comically in a green crocodile costume panicking over his missing teeth. Outside, the weather was 14C. The children sported colourful jackets, some with Moo Deng printed on them.
All for pride, pride for all
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 27/06/2022
» Silom Road was packed. I don't think anyone -- not even the organisers -- anticipated such a scene. What a turnout it was on the first Sunday of June when crowds flocked to the area to join the Pride parade. There was music and dancing. Lady Gaga's Born This Way blasted from the stereo. Feathers and sequins sparkled in the late afternoon sun. And in the midst of all the fun, there were voices of the people calling for marriage equality, sex workers' rights and the fall of patriarchy. For equal rights. For equality.
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
Rainbow capitalism takes hold
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 28/06/2021
» Rainbows are washing over the city. It's Pride Month. On streets, walkways, walls, shoes, T-shirts, scarfs -- basically anything -- vivid colours of the rainbow have been splashed on the surface of places and things. It seems that many people -- in the private sector at least -- are very eager to celebrate Pride.
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.
Lush life
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 21/09/2020
» As the night descended, we went out with binoculars in hand. Amid tall trees, flashes of light illuminated a pair of red eyes, which experts quickly identified as belonging to nang ai -- or Sunda slow loris -- a nocturnal primate native to southern Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. The animal, perching on a faraway branch, is currently listed as "endangered" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
School system still full of oppression
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 13/07/2020
» If a student's hair could talk, every single strand would probably ask: "Why are you so obsessed with me?" in its best Regina George impression.
Queer nights at the cinema
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 23/06/2020
» LGBTI Pride Month celebrations are alive on the big screen.
Truckload of goodwill
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 15/06/2020
» A giant white truck stands tall on the ground. At first light, its cargo area is soon filled with sacks of rice and food items packed by a group of volunteers and staff who had gathered at the Thai Elephants Conservation Centre in Khao Yai on a recent weekend. With their collective effort, the packing and loading process is completed in no time and the truck is ready to roll.
Silver screen's future no longer golden
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 12/06/2020
» The Bangkok arthouse cinema House Samyan may look a little different today to frequent cinemagoers and cinephiles. Along the corridor of the 5th floor of Samyan Mitrtown, the cinema has placed memorable quotes from movies on the floor to remind people to keep their distance from one another. Masks, hand sanitiser, checking for fever, Thai Chana check-in -- audiences know the drill right from the entrance. But the most noticeable difference is actually inside the theatre itself. Empty seats and rows make sure people sit relatively far from one another. Partitions were installed between seats.