Thailand IDAHO Report 2013

Trans activists featured strongly in Thailand’s contribution to this year’s May 17 commemorations. Events included a participatory workshop with Miss Tiffany Company, a world-renowned transwomen beauty pageant organization in Thailand. The workshop, held in in Pattaya, focused on raising awareness of IDAHOT and on human rights issues related to trans women and featured the participation of 27 finalists as well as media and celebrities. Together with Thailand’s National Human Rights Commission, activists also organised a day-long IDAHOT event at the NHRC office on May 17. Discussions included the global IDAHOT movement and the presentation of a project on trans rights and Thai military recruitment.

In Bangkok, LGBTQI activists organised the event ‘IDAHOT Rainbow People’. Various rainbow themed activities were conducted involving dance, theatre, costume and candlelight, at the Democracy Monument, Thamasat University, BTS Skytrain, and Victory Monument consecutively. Various other events took place throughout the country.

Thai Transgender Alliance events

One major contribution to this years May 17 commemorations was led by the Thai Transgender Alliance (Thai TGA), a non-profit organisation working for the human rights and sexual health of transgender people in Thailand. The group made international headlines in January after they openly denounced IKEA’s “negative and stereotypical” ad campaign, which depicted an MTF trans woman in a “deceitful” light.
The List of IDAHOT 2013 events in Thailand
1. Pre-event for IDAHOT:
Thai TGA co-organized a participatory workshop with Miss Tiffany Company, the world-renowned transwomen beauty pageant organization in Thailand. The workshop took place on Monday 29, April with 27 transwomen finalists. The workshop focused on raising awareness of IDAHOT, sexual rights and other human rights related to transwommen in Thailand. The organizers also invited media and local trans celebrities to join this event in Pattaya.
2 Event on IDAHOT
Thai TGA and Thailand’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) organized a day-long IDAHOT event at the NHRC office on May 17th. The panel discussion covered several topics, including global IDAHOT movement. The workshop results were summed up by Miss Tiffany, followed by the summary of the project on “Trans Rights Watch for Military Recruitment” conducted by Thai TGA.
For more infomation log onto www.thaitga.com // www.facebook.com/thaitga

Photos from Bangkok Rainbow People: