Image credit: Tanwarin Sukkhapisit Facebook
All around the world, advancements are being made when it comes to LGBTQ representation. The most recent stride was made in Thailand, as transgender filmmaker Tanwarin Sukkhapisit was elected into the Thai House of Representatives.
This is Thailand’s first general election after 2014’s military coup. Sukkhapisit ran a a candidate of the Future Forward Party (FFP), whose election manifesto included a number of LGBTQ policies.
Before deciding to run for Parliament, Sukkhapisit was embroiled in a five-year legal battle that resulted in Thai censors cutting out a nude scene from Sukkhapisit’s film before it could be screened.
These Thai elections were probably the most inclusive yet, with the FFP even promising amendments to the Civil Code that would make marriage be between persons rather than between a man and a woman.
Sukkhapisit alsso wasn’t the solo trans person to run for office. Trans woman Pauline Ngarmpring, of the pro-LGBTQ Mahachon party, ran for Prime Minister with slogan “Diversity is Thailand’s Pride.” The Mahachon Party fielded more than 20 LGBTQ candidates during the election.
Recently, out politician Pete Buttigieg also made history as the first out politician to participate in a presidential debate. He managed to accomplish this after amassing 65,000 donors, the minimum number required to take part in the official Democratic debates. Buttigieg, an Afghanistan war veteran, has also been able to raise over $600,000 in 24 hours.
As a CD I find this story interesting and proof the world is changing. It may not be what you as an individual want but it is what it is.
No comments huh? I’m not surprised. There is still much hatred and stereotyping among LGBTQ society. Heck Many don’t think they are apart of it period. I could go on and on about this but not much will change. CONGRATS TO HER!!!!!!!!