reader Posted May 18 Posted May 18 From Thai PBS World Move Forward party-list MP, Paramee Waichongcharoen, who identifies as transgender, discusses why Thai politics are still dominated by men and how parliamentarians from the LGBTQ community, including women, are being treated in a male-dominated parliament. Currently, only 19% of Thai MPs are female, while there are only four MPs, including Paramee herself, who openly identify as LGBTQ. Due to the gender imbalance in parliament, many female and LGBTQ MPs still face prejudice, discrimination and even verbal harassment. “The Thai parliament is highly male-dominated, because the patriarchy is so ingrained in Thai society,” she explains. “Most MPs are men. Many of them still hold on to conservative, traditional values, believing that men are superior to others. There are so many MPs with this mindset. Not only LGBTQ+ MPs are harassed or disrespected, even female MPs that I’ve talked to are also disrespected.” Paramee recalled accounts from her fellow MPs, both LGBTQ and women, when they encountered discrimination and harassment from other (male) MPs, both verbally and through inappropriate glares. She has helped them with how to respond and how to “educate” other MPs as to why such behaviour is inappropriate, especially in parliament. “Even if an LGBTQ+ individual looks like a straight woman, looks tall, or looks masculine or whatnot, no one has the right to harass them. I insist that you must never harass them, whether it’s verbal or through inappropriate looks,” she says. Continues at https://www.thaipbsworld.com/move-forward-mp-on-being-a-transgender-politician-and-gender-equality-in-thailand/ Quote
