Earlier this month, the Bangkok Pride parade drew a slew of rights defenders and supporters -- LGBTQ activists, politicians, ambassadors, international organisations, and businessmen. It took place under a fresh political atmosphere given the recent victory of the pro-democracy parties in the May 14 election. If these parties are allowed to govern, the future for the LGBTQ community is promising. However, before the marriage equality bill passed the first reading, it was strongly criticised, especially for supporting "unnatural behaviour".
It is misleading to conclude that Thailand is really an open society -- despite the strong presence of gay, lesbians and ladyboys in various businesses. In villages in Isan, the northeastern region of Thailand, many ladyboys are accepted if they can generate household income, even if it means working in the sex industry in Pattaya or Phuket. However, if they get infected with HIV or are no longer capable of generating money, they are often abandoned by their families. In short, the dignity afforded to LGBTQ people is usually measured by their economic value in the market.
