The Foundation of Transgender Alliance for Human Rights, in cooperation with the Sisters Foundation and the Safe and Creative Media Development Fund, held an open forum at the A-One Cruise Hotel in Pattaya on Sept. 20 to discuss the issue of transgender rights in Thailand and the portrayal of gender issues in the media.
Central to the meeting was a presentation and discussion of the highly rated TV show “Bai Mai Tee Plit Plew”, which aired on the GMM One channel from June to August this year and proved wildly popular with viewers. The show covered a wide number of topics related to transgender issues, such as discrimination and violence, family rejection, stigma in society and sex reassignment surgery.
Legal matters were also covered at the meeting in Pattaya, including the issue of identity and stated gender on government and official documents and how gaps in the law need to be filled in order to ensure that all members of society enjoy equal rights.
The forum cited the media and soap operas like “Bai Mai Tee Plit Plew”, as being powerful tools to raise awareness of transgender and LGBT issues and pave the way for reforms to the current laws and certifying rights.
Among the headline speakers at the event were Dr. Kangwan Fongkawe, lecturer on Communication Arts and Social Sciences at Burapha University, Nattawut Buapratum, a representative from the Future Forward Party, and Thitiyanan Nukpor, the Director of the Sisters Foundation.
