List of Important Websites for Gay Thailand

[Guest beachlover]

Isn't that a bit presumptuous to suggest how people should spend and allocate their money in such a personal way?

 

Why should the trustees donate their holiday/travel budgets and stay away from Thailand instead of spending it for their own enjoyment? Should we all live like monks so we can give everything we earn away to worthy causes?

[Guest fountainhall]

Isn't that a bit presumptuous to suggest how people should spend and allocate their money in such a personal way?

 

Why should the trustees donate their holiday/travel budgets and stay away from Thailand instead of spending it for their own enjoyment?

Yes, of course it is presumptuous. And it is clearly not up to me to tell any charity organisers how to run their charity. My only concern is this website. The fact is they are running a charity in Thailand from a UK base. All I have suggested is that there might be other ways of using that money which could then avoid a link with a religious organisation.

 

That of course will not happen. So, as we all now know, if this site is to include this charity in its website section, it will be promoting (sanctioning?) a charity which does not have an administrative base in the country and which links in quite strongly with a religious organisation. Personally, I am against that.

[Guest gwm4sian]

The Pattaya Street Kids Support Project started over 10 years ago, and has always been a UK based charity, raising money in UK for use in support of kids of Pattaya. My involvement with them started just over a year ago, when they were nominated and selected by forum members on Ting Tong to be one of our 3 selected charities for the forthcoming charity event. That event, which included the much publicised gunking of GayButton, was extremely successful, and, following on from that, Ray from The Venue offered to host a series of fundraising events at The Venue. For those events I produced a video giving the background to the charity and providing the basis for an appeal. This video is still available for viewing at www.gaytingtong.com/01/web3psk.wmv and I recommend you to watch it if you have not already seen it. Up until Ting Tong did the fundraising event, PSKSP had not had any specific fundraising in Thailand

 

 

 

In responding to Scooby

[Guest beachlover]

My only concern is this website.

That's a good point about this website.

 

I had read about one instance where a poster's donation was used in partnership with Mercy but it sounded like a once off. I didn't know they have a continuing relationship/partnership with Mercy, since I never looked at their site in any great detail.

 

It is strange they declare this on their home page:

We are a secular charity and do not support or promote any religious organisation. We are always prepared to consider working with any organisation in bringing help to children in need on the strict understanding that any such help is given unconditionally and does not involve the preaching, promoting or acceptance of any religion.

 

Yet, they mention utilising MERCY for so many aspects of their operation on this page: http://pattayastreetkids.homestead.com/FAQ.html

 

This is MERCY's website: http://mercypattaya.com/about/

 

It says:

PURPOSE:

1. Develop projects to help provide educational, moral, social and spiritual training for poor children and the destitute.

2. Undertake strategic projects among the poor to help bring about community transformation in Pattaya.

3. Find and train disciples in each slum area where MERCY is active, to carry on the work.

4. Fulfill God’s commands to show mercy as stated in Matthew 25:35-40 and James 1:27

 

Perhaps if it is true that all work undertaken by Mercy for PSK is done strictly without any reference to religion, it might a good idea to make this clear and explain how PSK ensures this is the case... so as not to unjustifiably put off donors and supporters.

[Guest gwm4sian]

I showed this thread the Don Ford, the founder of PSKSP and he has written this (rather lengthy) reply which you may care to read..

 

 

Thank you for giving PSK the opportunity to respond to the questions about the charity raised in this thread, although most of the answers can already be found on our website and in our FAQ perhaps the following will be of help.

 

 

1. I know the Pattaya Street Kids project is a fantastic charity. My understanding is that it is based on mission from a religious organization. I forget the name of the group. While that may be great and the members of that group are happy to take money from gays, I hate giving money to any religious organization. I am sure I'll get blasted for this but it is the way I feel.

 

It is clearly stated many times our website that PSKSP is a secular charity. We will work with any organisation religious or otherwise providing that the help given to the kids is not conditional on the acceptance of any religion or religious teaching. In fact I have no idea even as to the religious convictions of my fellow trustees; just like politics it is never discussed as it is totally irrelevant to the aims of the charity. It is not a matter of

[Guest naughtybutnice]

At the risk of overdoing things, let me just make one further observation. The FAQ makes two additional points:

 

 

Noble and generous though all this is, I have one question. The Trustees pay for their own trips to Thailand out of their own pocket. Similarly, they also pay for the administration. The 2010 Annual Report makes clear that 4 Trustees visited during the year. I have no idea how they travelled (economy or business class), how they were accommodated or how long each visit lasted. But I have a feeling that if all that money was donated by the Trustees instead of being spent, it would go a long way to providing a basic administrative framework here in Thailand, one that would not require any link with MERCY.

 

So your suggestion is that the trustees who took a holday to Thailand should forego any holidays and donate all of the money to the charity? If any of the trustees agree not to make a visit to Thailand this year will you match

[Guest YardenUK]

I really think the motivation behind the street kids project is superb, but without wanting to sound anal (no pun intended!), the issue for some members of this forum is the use of the MERCY MISSION.

 

It IS a Christian Mission and openly says so on their website - am I being stupid, but I thought all christian missionaries were committed to proselytising (the definition of which is to convert or attempt to convert (someone) from one religion or belief to another)? Yes they may be good people but for me personally once missionary work becomes involved in any shape or form (be it Christian, Muslim or whatever), then I do have a problem. Moreso, when the missionaries are actively proselytising among impressionable (and dare I say so, vulnerable), children.

 

I do not question the integrity of the charity Trustees. I do not question at all the rationale for being registered in the UK. I do not question or doubt that they have helped many children........but at what price? How many little Buddhist(and perhaps some Muslim), brains have been taught the Christian doctrine (dogma?), by Mercy missionaries?

 

It isn't simply an academic broad Religious Studies curriculum, it is the evangelical CHRISTIAN missionary tactic I find questionable and while St Paul may have instructed Christians to go out and convert the world, I for one, feel quite happy that the Thai people stay true to their own brand of Buddhist philosophy.

 

 

So while I agree wholeheartedly with the aims and objectives of PSKSP and I accept it may be logistically easier for the charity to use MERCY Mission, I personally feel this is misguided and short sighted.

[Guest fountainhall]

So your suggestion is that the trustees who took a holday to Thailand should forego any holidays and donate all of the money to the charity? If any of the trustees agree not to make a visit to Thailand this year will you match

[Guest naughtybutnice]

Let

[Guest gwm4sian]

 

 

Had I been correct in my assumption, then my comments were, I believe, perfectly in order - for the reasons I stated. Now that I know the assumption was wrong, I happily withdraw the comments and apologise to those who are upset by them.

 

Thank you for that gentlemanly comment - I can assure you I was not upset but welcomed the opportunity for good honest open debate

[Guest fountainhall]

Thank you for that gentlemanly comment - I can assure you I was not upset but welcomed the opportunity for good honest open debate

And I thank you and naughtybutnice for your understanding. I am not sure when Don Ford will be here, but if it is in December (sadly I am not here in November), I will be delighted to have the opportunity of meeting him either in Bangkok or Pattaya. Following this discussion, my interest has been aroused and I do wish to know more.

[Guest GaySacGuy]

I don't see any reason to call attention to something with young kids being posted on or about on gay websites...Why as for trouble. I don't even like the idea of gay guys blogs being full of pictures of minors, especially males. There is just no reason to ask for or create a problem!

[Moses]

please add under Pattaya hotels http://pattaya-gay-hotel.blogspot.com/

[Guest JamesBarnes]

Please add:

 

www.out-in-thailand.com

 

Thank you and best wishes,

 

James.

[Guest bottomdad]

Under Pattaya hotels, please add

 

www.orchid-guesthouse-pattaya.com/

 

Thanks,

[Guest bottomdad]

Under Pattaya hotels also add.

 

www.ganymede-jomtien.com/