Lady Military Boys

Thai military to declassify transgenderism as a “mental disorder”From this year, Thai transgenders (and transsexuals) who are called up for mandatory military conscription will no longer have to suffer a “mental disorder” label being slapped on them.

The drafting of new recruits this year begins April 1-10 nationwide. The landmark agreement was reached recently by Ministry of Defence, a group of local LGBT organisations and the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand. Advocates expect the ministry to eventually drop transgenderism from a list of diseases used in exempting conscripts. In the old-aged list, the word transgenderism, when translated into Thai, could mistakenly fall into the same category as hermaphrodism (a person with two sexual organs). Up till now, post-operative transgenders (or transsexuals) are classified as having a mental disorder as their reassigned gender is not reflected on official documents. The terms described in exemption certificates of transgenders could also be varied, depending on the personal view of the doctors in charge and their choice of terms. Thailand's celebrity transsexual kick-boxer Parinya Charoenphol, known as Nong Toom, was registered as having “a mental disorder-with the mind of a woman” in 2002, while another, Samart Meecharoen, was registered as having "permanent mental disorder" in 2005. Samart said she have had problems when looking for a job. The label causes problems for transgenders not only for applying for a job, but also legal complications such as insurance, passport and contracts as they are considered mentally disabled persons. Many employers are found using the draft exemption certificate issued to them, as an excuse not to hire them, said Naiyana Supapeng from the Human Rights Commission.

In April, men aged 21 have to show up at draft venues for physical examinations. The drafting of new recruits this year begins April 1-10 nationwide. In Bangkok alone with 50 districts open for the drafting, there is an average of one transgender per one district, said deputy army spokesman Colonel Chalermphol Thammasoonthorn, a spokesman of the ministry.As legal amendments will take a substantial amount of time and advocates want the new ruling to go into effect as soon as possible to benefit those who have been called up for conscription this year, the military has agreed not to classify transgendered conscripts with breast enlargement or who have undergone sex change surgery as having a "mental disorder." While they will be exempted, military doctors and officials will have to adopt other terms such as “problems with body features” or “body type” as a temporary solution.

However, pre-operative transgenders still have to go through the draft and physical check-up as other conscripts. While regular conscripts undergo physical examinations and assessment as a batch, transgenders who have undergone hormone therapy and have begun sex reassignment surgery will be examined in private rooms and will not be required to go shirtless as other recuits are required to. The military has also held training for officers at the drafting venues nationwide. Newspapers and the media have previously featured transgenders with bare breasts being ridiculed in the drafting venues. Naiyana said for those who were given “mental disorder” in their certificates, they are encouraged to file legal complaints to make cases so that the court will open hearing and the process of legal changes will hastened. Thailand’s mental health department has announced in 2002 that homosexuality is not regarded as a mental disease to reflect World Health Organization’s 1992 resolution on the same subject.