• LIFE

  An empathetic view

  Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 26/07/2016

  » Imagine a room full of red-lace bras, packs of condoms and a dancing pole -- did we just wander into an illicit, red-light district somewhere? No, these items are brazenly displayed at perhaps one of the most unusual museums in the country: This Is Us -- Empower Foundation's Museum of Sex Works in Thai Society.

• LIFE

  Ruling on rape

  Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 10/06/2019

  » Rape always brings with it devastation -- to the victims, their families and even the public that learns of such crimes. The condemnation is loud, a cry for harsh punishment up to the penalty of death -- a solution many believe can put an end to rape.

• 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.

• THAILAND

  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.

• LIFE

  Call me by her name

  Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 13/07/2018

  » While the interest and market for gay-themed stories continue to grow -- on online channels, on television series and in cinemas -- the sub-genre of lesbian movies has still got some catching up to do, especially in Thailand. Once in a blue moon, a lesbian film would drop on our cinema or TV screens, and the ones that had an actual cultural impact can be counted on one hand. At last week's LGBT Film Festival, which saw an enthusiastic turnout, there was then just one lesbian film among a dozen gay-themed international titles. All of this seems to signify that truly fair representation of gender and sexuality in the media still has quite a way to go.

• LIFE

  Let there be light

  Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 27/02/2018

  » Outdoor cinema, or nang klang plaeng, rose and fell and has risen again, its popularity reflecting the changes in technology and taste of Thai viewers. Once suffering due to home entertainment and the spread of multiplexes into rural areas, outdoor cinema, having found a footing, has made a surprising comeback.

• THAILAND

  The people's discontent

  Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 03/04/2019

  » The means for advocacy has changed in the past few years since the dawning of the so-called 4.0 era. Online platforms such as the worldwide Change.org have become increasingly popular, with campaigns being generated by the people themselves to call for the attention of decision-makers and support from fellow members of the public who share the same ideology.

• LIFE

  Double jeopardy

  Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 24/09/2018

  » Of the 370,000 held in the Thai prison system, 4,500 of them are transgender people.

• LIFE

  The ugly risks of cosmetic surgery

  Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 20/08/2018

  » South Korea -- the plastic surgery capital of the world -- is a popular destination for many Thais in pursuit of "aesthetic perfection". Want to look handsome like oppa? Or like the pretty idols in series and music videos with flawless skin and features? To many, South Korea is the answer.

• THAILAND

  The finish line

  Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 17/07/2018

  » When the gates opened, the jockeys drove hard and the horses thundered out on the grassy racetrack. The crowd of fortune-seekers went wild cheering for the horses they'd bet on. Some clutched a pair of binoculars. Others had eyes glued to the big screen. In the background, the announcer detailed the race's progress. After just over a minute, the horses covered 1,200m and crossed the finish line. While some continued to cheer, most of the crowd fell into a collective sigh.

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