Gay Buddhists and other groups in Thailand.

[ScholarDreamer]

I would like to bring this Thai Buddhist monk to the groups attention.

https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/thai...iage-equality/

I am trying multipe avenues of getting answers. I mention this because I perceive a dismissive tone in regards to my question.

[Armando]

I would like to bring this Thai Buddhist monk to the groups attention.

https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/thai...iage-equality/

I am trying multipe avenues of getting answers. I mention this because I perceive a dismissive tone in regards to my question.

Having lived in Thailand for a couple of decades and visited regularly beforehand and with several Thai friends, I know nothing of any Buddhist LGBT group. I do suggest that the key sentence in the article you posted is

"“He is quite exceptional; it is not common to see a Buddhist monk take such an interest in these issues, and be vocal and supportive, and even show up at events,” Anjana Suvarnanda, co-founder of the LGBT+ organization Anjaree Group, told TRF.

If he is virtually unique, it is unlikely there will be more than a handful of others. I suggest your research investigates not simly Buddhist groups but Thai society's attitudes to the LGBT community in general. Although Thailand is regarded as a relatively open society for LGBT tourists, within the country there is still a strong anti LGBT feeling in much of society (admittedly the older generations) and especially in businesses. Many young professional Thais are afraid to come out to their colleagues in the workplace because they believe this will affect their standing in the company and especially their promotion prospects.

The article also mentions Thailand preparing to pass a landmark civil partnerships bill. That was written a year ago and the bill is not merely bogged down in the legislative process, the government has so many other more major pressing issues on its plate just now that the chances of it being debated anytime soon are minimal.

You might look at parallels with Vietnam. In 2014 that country changed a 1992 law to provide some rights to the LGBT community and enable same-sex marriage. But there is a sting in the tail. Same sex marriages are not recognised as more than a ceremony and are not protected under the law. Thai society may be less conservative than Vietnamese society, but I think it is likely that if Thailand moves soon on gay marriage the debate is likely to throw up a lot of anti-LGBT views.