• LIFE

  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.

• LIFE

  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

• LIFE

  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.

• LIFE

  Raising the Pride flag

  Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 31/08/2020

  » Alongside anti-government demonstrations, protesters are raising their voice for equality and LGBTI gender rights.

• LIFE

  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

• LIFE

  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.

• LIFE

  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.

• LIFE

  The wonder girl grows up

  Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 20/09/2019

  » Bangkok's local concert calendar is now a nostalgic affair filled with 90s and millennium playlists. Stepping away from that slightly worn-out path is diva Tata Young, whose upcoming concert next month will be packed with English music from her days as one of the biggest stars from Asia.

• LIFE

  The song remains the same

  Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 26/08/2019

  » It seems as if each day brings new challenges for the LGBTI community in Thailand. So what's new (or old) this month?

• LIFE

  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

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