Real Songkran sinners evade exposure

[lonelywombat]

The story of a Transvestite dancing in the street during Songkran and being fined, has been in the daily press almost every day.

this is from the Bangkok Post today

Real Songkran sinners evade exposure

Published: 25/04/2012 at 02:40 AM
Newspaper section: Life[attachment=0:2br4gagp]379171.jpg[/attachment:2br4gagp]

As expected after Songkran, it was inevitable we would have a piece of controversial news to talk about once the great water battle was over. Last year, the country's media was in a frenzy about two girls dancing bare-breasted among the celebratory crowds on Silom Road. This year, another topless dancer sparked social criticism, only this time it was a 19-year-old transvestite.

It all started with video footage of Sarawut Suparb and his transvestite friends captured dancing during Songkran. In the clip, Sarawut is cheered on by a crowd to take off his shirt, unveiling his implanted breasts. A photo of Sarawut was on the front page of almost every newspaper in the city, including the Bangkok Post, when he turned up to the police station in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya to answer a charge of indecent exposure. He was fined 500 baht and ordered to "apologise" to the whole country for his behaviour.

Besides learning that exposing bare breasts in public, even a pair that are surgically made, is obviously a sensitive issue among Thais and the media, I have something else to say about what happened to young Sarawut. I find it ironic that, after all, it was a "man" who danced topless.

What I am trying to say is that there is another way to look deeper through what happened to Sarawut.

While Thailand refuses to legally recognise transgenders as women, one of the reasons that I think caused Sarawut trouble was because he appeared to look like a "woman" or a man who has "female" breasts. And, if you have a chance to see his picture, he could be easily mistaken for a pretty girl.

Today, it is rather hard to be a woman in this male-dominated world.

Imagine being a man who has a female soul but is trapped in a male physique? It takes guts for those who are transvestite and transgender to adhere to their true colours. And I always respect them for being true to themselves and trying to live their lives with pride.

Personally, as a native Thai I did not expect Sarawut's apologetic gesture as he had already paid his fine and served his punishment for what the police and society considered a crime.

Who I think needs to stand up and apologise is whoever lets underage children (I'm talking about below the age of 15) walk around with bottles of beer during Songkran, looking like drugged puppies with motion sickness.

This is what I think society should seriously pay attention to.

Yanapon Musiket writes on art and entertainment for Life and has a monthly column, Queer Eye, dedicated to gay rights and gender diversity.

http://tastythailand.com/19-year-old-tr ... -songkran/

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[vnman]

Today, it is rather hard to be a woman in this male-dominated world.

what about being gay?

Imagine being a man who has a female soul but is trapped in a male physique?

tell me about it :tongue3:

Personally, as a native Thai I did not expect Sarawut's apologetic gesture as he had already paid his fine and served his punishment for what the police and society considered a crime.

But seriously, I have a hard time understanding my country's politics sometimes, let alone that of others. You're a Thai native and that makes your post interesting. I would expect a post like this from an expat and would account it to the fact that he doesn't know the culture well enough. In your case that is definitely not the case, so this must be, even for the Thais, an unprecedented situation.

Question: What would have happened if he hadn't made that apologetic gesture?

I'm confused - so the guy was charged with indecent exposure - and he's a bloke ? - yes a transvestiite, which as far as I know is simply a guy that wears womens clothes ? and yes he seemingly had breast implants . i.e bigger than a normal guys breasts - so, everytime I go to the beach in Jomteim will I now get prosecutued for indecent exposure if I take my shirt off as a) I'm a bloke and b) my man boobs would put some Thai womens boobs that I know to shame ( unfortuantely lol) .....but seriously - how can they prosectute a "man" for simply having his shirt off ( and yes ok I know this is Thailand and they can do whatever the hell they want etc) but it would surely have made an interesting legal case were it contested as opposed to the poor guy being humilated into having to apologise to an entire country ! and all simply for taking HIS shirt off when there are many rice farmers, labourers, go go boys and dear knows who else who do exactly the same all over the Country every single day without a word being said ! Discrimination I say !! Should have got himself a better lawyer ! :-(

[Neal]

Yes NIrish. Thailand is still serious about their "customs" and exposing breasts by ladies is one of them. Sure he was a transvestite but I guess if he appeared to be a girl and was trying to make his body into a girl, well you are screwing with their customs. I am often surprised at the exposure of women and their breasts on Jomtien because I know their ways and their culture (somewhat). Same goes for these big bikers and their Harleys. It is just their cutures and yes I know these motorbike places pay tea money to not only have them but rent them. I know of a story when Bangkok Police came down and
fined every vendor of the big bikes. Of course like everything else, they just come back after fines are paid.