tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593931603781760129.post2297209838869579836..comments2023-09-11T07:29:29.039-04:00Comments on Stories from the East: [My Take on] Being Gay in ThailandAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05488611517718771187noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593931603781760129.post-77804529249965032012013-06-02T14:52:59.037-04:002013-06-02T14:52:59.037-04:00Thanks for commenting, Krit. This topic can be ver...Thanks for commenting, Krit. This topic can be very sensitive, and though I was just stating my opinion, I didn't want to make assumptions or offend. It's nice to hear that your experience was in line with my observation. And what is "normal" anyway? Normal is subjective; up to each person, culture, country, etc. Acting in such a way IS normal in Thailand, and I really respect and miss that about Thailand. Thanks again for reading and responding, Krit!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05488611517718771187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593931603781760129.post-81699615113379641282013-06-01T15:26:35.027-04:002013-06-01T15:26:35.027-04:00Great post. Even I'll have to admit that the p...Great post. Even I'll have to admit that the part you said "[straight] high school boy students lay all over each other, sit on each others' laps and touch each other in ways..." is very...very true. I'm Thai and I play like that with my friends a lot. I've always thought that this is normal, this surprise me that it's not at all. I believe that current generation doesn't discriminate against gay that much, though some or many people might not like them, they still wouldn't do anything like protesting or hating them or whatsoever. Most people who are freinds with gay stay that way. Hell, most gay celebities are accepted by most people. And about what Lani said, that really depends on the parents, but for this generation itself it's not much of a problem I think. True in some areas they don't accept gay, but those areas are pretty specific about what they do like in the army. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13141656181293877749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593931603781760129.post-82246819578118470782012-08-22T09:38:51.020-04:002012-08-22T09:38:51.020-04:00Hi this is a great article. I was wondering if you...Hi this is a great article. I was wondering if you would be interested in running it as a guest post at the site I run - www.asiapundits.com. We run a variety of posts on life in Asia and this fits the bill. If you are interested get in touch with me at asiapundits@gmail.com. We would be willing to run a bio for you and a link back to the original article. Please let me know what you think. Cheers!Asia Punditshttp://www.asiapundits.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593931603781760129.post-32226334808432568382012-08-21T07:26:16.134-04:002012-08-21T07:26:16.134-04:00Thanks for your comment. It's always interesti...Thanks for your comment. It's always interesting to hear another perspective. I suppose I was being a bit too optimistic. No society is perfect, I've just been extremely impressed coming from the world I grew up in.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05488611517718771187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593931603781760129.post-44470548856290256362012-08-15T10:38:44.592-04:002012-08-15T10:38:44.592-04:00Actually being gay isn't always accepted by Th...Actually being gay isn't always accepted by Thais. Certainly not if you're in the army or a teacher. Some parents do accept, but only if their offspring produces grandchildren. <br />Most do not mention it to their family. A 'don't ask, don't tell' attitude exists. <br />It's true there's not so much of the bullying, but that doesn't mean it's totally okay in this society.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593931603781760129.post-19734724167123906092012-07-17T22:33:52.933-04:002012-07-17T22:33:52.933-04:00Lani, thanks for sharing. I think I've been so...Lani, thanks for sharing. I think I've been so impressed with the gay-tolerance overall here that I failed to consider the older generation. Before I wrote this, I did speak with a few Thai friends who said if there is anyone less tolerant, it may be the older generation, but they didn't know anyone personally or under 30 who was that way. It's interested to hear your stories. In my experience in schools, the children seem completely accepting and I have never witnessed any segregation. I suppose there are always exceptions.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05488611517718771187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593931603781760129.post-30937813671661511432012-07-17T10:53:04.688-04:002012-07-17T10:53:04.688-04:00I felt the same way as you did until I had a littl...I felt the same way as you did until I had a little chat with my mom...I just assumed that lady boys were accepted part of society but my "aunt" had the crap beat out of her by her 6 brothers growing up in the small town of Lamphun.<br /><br />They didn't want a brother that acted like a girl! Of course this is the older generation, but who can tell whether or not this still happens?<br /><br />Recently the mother of one of my students called our school office to request that her daughter not sit next to another girl (a tom). It became evident she feared her daughter being gay...<br /><br />That said, I do think Thailand is a heck of a lot more tolerant than the US. But I don't think gays are not without being judged or teased. Especially by immature boys (and girls?) who are still getting comfortable in their own skins.lanivcoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07027244192185901790noreply@blogger.com