Flashes of rainbow colours as students call for equality

[webfact 63,167]

Flashes of rainbow colours as students call for equality

By THE NATION

 

 

A group of students held their first “pride parade” in Thailand by marching nearly two kilometres from the Nitas Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall on Wednesday (July 29) to the Education Ministry to demand equality for their LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) peers.

 

 

 

Several members also symbolically cut their hair or removed their male students’ uniforms to reveal a blouse and skirt underneath. They called on the ministry to revise the contents of health-education textbooks, saying the content is outdated and does not cover topics such as different sexual orientations, which leads to people misunderstanding the LGBTQ group.

 

 

The ministry’s permanent secretary Prasert Boonreung accepted the petition from the group’s representative before they dispersed peacefully.

 

 

Full story: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30392102

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-07-29

 

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[Justgrazing 15,421]

8 minutes ago, webfact said:

Several members also symbolically cut their hair or removed their male students’ uniforms to reveal a blouse and skirt underneath

 

9 minutes ago, webfact said:

The ministry’s permanent secretary Prasert Boonreung accepted the petition from the group’s representative before

taking his whistle & flute off to reveal a Basque , 'spenders and fine grade fishnets .. 

[stouricks 1,969]

Most of those students do not look old enough to know where to put what!    LOL  555    PML

Edited July 29 by stouricks

[nausea 4,148]

Cool; ah, to be young and idealistic. Thailand has always had this kind of strange relationship with the non-gender conforming. Hard to explain - accepted in one way, not in another.

[webfact 63,167]

Thai students rally over gender rights, uniforms and haircut rules

By Jiraporn Kuhakan

 

Members of a youth pride student group hold an LGBT flag during a rally for gender rights in Bangkok, Thailand July 29, 2020. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Dozens of students rallied in Thailand on Wednesday to demand from the government greater gender rights and an end to what they called outdated curriculum and discriminatory rules on uniforms and haircuts.

 

Onlookers in Bangkok cheered and applauded as students of mixed ages carrying placards and banners and rainbow flags, fans and umbrellas marched to the education ministry in protest at a school system they said was far behind the times. The group included secondary school pupils and some older students.

 

They took aim in particular at rules that prescribe specific hair length and styles for male and female students.

 

"What about students of other genders? This is something the ministry needs to consider because it is normal to be diverse," said Panupong Suwannahong, 19, a protest organiser.

 

"The school uniform segregates the students' genders."

 

The demonstration comes amid an increase in student-led political protests in Thailand in recent weeks. The group, however, said it had no ties to an anti-government movement.

 

On the steps of the ministry and in front of its permanent secretary, student Pimchanok Nongnual, 19, shaved her hair with electric clippers in protest at "suffocating" gender rules.

 

"What about gender fluid or non-binary students?" said Pimchanok.

 

Although it is a largely conservative Buddhist society, Thailand has a reputation for openness and free-wheeling attitudes and has a vibrant lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) social scene.

 

Its cabinet backed a civil partnership bill on July 8 to recognise same-sex unions with almost the same legal rights as married couples, in one of Thailand's most liberal moves yet.

 

However, activists say its education system is reluctant to respond to changing attitudes. Nattapat Satavelarot, 17, tore up a textbook on health and hygiene, rejecting what he called a discriminatory curriculum.

 

"I want teachers to be educated about LBGTQ rights and they need to understand that students consisting of many genders is not a taboo," Nattapat said.

 

(Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Peter Graff)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-07-30

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[yellowboat 14,528]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Although it is a largely conservative Buddhist society, Thailand has a reputation for openness and free-wheeling attitudes and has a vibrant lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) social scene.

Really?  YOu learn something new everyday. 

[rupert the bear 408]

thailand is fully discriminatory in regards to gay and trans people.no doubt about that,theres many beautiful well educated trans girls that cant find employment.school uniforms though,ummm if a student is gay they still need to wear the uniform appropriate to their gender and if trans they must be allowed to wear the uniform of the sex that they are now.haircuts umm im not sure but a uniform is designed for the reason students look the same IE if you have a rich background you look as a poor student does so no discrimination in that regard too.theres an awful lot of discrimination about rich and poor here too ,go ask tonglor cops!!

[Geoffggi 3,103]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

"The school uniform segregates the students' genders."

Errrr yes, generally boys don't look too good in skirts and what about teaching a little discipline, if I'm not mistaken dress code was brought in as a way of making everyone equal so what is so bad about that ...?? 

[CorpusChristie 3,027]

15 minutes ago, rupert the bear said:

if a student is gay they still need to wear the uniform appropriate to their gender

Why would a gay man want to wear females clothes ? 

[Yinn 9,670]

I think not necessary. Most not care if you man, woman, Tom, dee, katoey, gay . Up to you.

I have freinds all seven. 

 

Only some old man care about that, not much. Why care there opinion? Not there business.

 

Lefty nonsense copy the western countrys. 

 

 

[Geoffggi 3,103]

Once again Yinn missing the point, the discussion is about school children not if people have friends who are gay, lesbian etc. these days I believe most people have friends from all cross sections .......!!!

Edited July 30 by Geoffggi

[Peter Denis 4,259]

15 minutes ago, Yinn said:

I think not necessary. Most not care if you man, woman, Tom, dee, katoey, gay king or gay queen. Up to you.

I have freinds all seven. 

 

Only some old man care about that, not much. Why care there opinion? Not there business.

 

Lefty nonsense copy the western countrys.

First time that I read a Yinn post that made me say; Hmmm, finally she has written something sensible...

But then of course you had to blow it with your last xenophobic fascist remark.

 

[CorpusChristie 3,027]

1 minute ago, Peter Denis said:

First time that I read a Yinn post that made me say; Hmmm, finally she has written something sensible...

But then of course you had to blow it with your last xenophobic fascist remark.

 

Could you explain why you feel that her remark was "fascist"?

[Peter Denis 4,259]

7 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said:

Could you explain why you feel that her remark was "fascist"?

Lefty nonsense... the far right isn't renowned for their tolerance on gender issues. 

[CorpusChristie 3,027]

5 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

Lefty nonsense... the far right isn't renowned for their tolerance on gender issues. 

But how does that make Yinns post "fascist" ?