Transsexual Fights for Rights - "It's Not a Mental Disorder"

[Gaybutton]

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST:

_____

 

Transsexual to Fight Mental Disorder' Statement

 

ANUCHA CHAROENPO

 

A transsexual man is preparing to file a lawsuit with the Administrative Court against the army's statement in a conscription certificate (Sor Dor 43) which exempted him from service for having a ''mental disorder''. Samart Meecharoen, a 22-year-old student of Ban Somdej Chao Phraya Rajabhat University, said the document, issued two years ago, deprived him of career opportunities as a private firm turned down his application for a part-time job, citing it as the reason. His petition to the court, supported by the National Human Rights Commission, the Lawyers Council of Thailand, the Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand and the Saphan Group representing same-sex lovers, will be submitted to the court on Nov 10.

 

If the court accepts the case for consideration, it will be the first of its kind in the country.

 

''I cannot accept it (the mental disorder statement) because I don't have a mental problem. In fact, I'm a normal guy who feels like a woman,'' said Mr Samart, who called himself Nong Namwan. He underwent the military conscription process two years ago in his hometown of Lop Buri province.

 

He has long hair and has worn women's clothes for a long time. He has had a breast operation but has yet to change his sex organ.

 

He said unless the document is changed properly, he would have no chance of working after finishing his studies at university in the next two years.

 

''I am the breadwinner of the family. If I have no job, I don't know how to earn money to feed my ageing parents,'' he said.

 

The army earlier this year recognised the problem and agreed to remove the term ''mental disorder'' from the document for new conscripts, as urged by rights advocacy groups.

 

However, it has yet to find ways to change the old documents.

 

Naiyana Supaphung, a human rights commissioner, lauded the army for its understanding.

 

''We are waiting for better changes,'' she said