Defence Ministry changes transgender policy
Thailand’s defence ministry has coined new terms to describe transgender individuals.
Friday 25 March 2011, 05:09AM
Thailand’s defence ministry has coined new terms to describe transgender individuals normally exempt from army conscription in an attempt to avoid causing offence, a report said on Sunday.
The ministry is amending the law that exempts transgender individuals from signing up to the military – unless there is a shortage of recruits – because of a perceived “psychological abnormality,” the Bangkok Post newspaper said.
When Thailand’s annual conscription begins in April this year, “Type 2” will instead refer to men who have had breast implants, while “Type 3” will describe those who have had a complete sex change. Type 1” will refer to men “whose appearances are typical of men.
Director of the academic resources division of the Army Reserve Command, Thaksin Chiamthong, said, “normally only Type 1 are required to draw a conscription ballot.
“But if the number of Type 1 is insufficient, Type 2 will be conscripted as well, despite their female-like breasts.’’
Thaksin’s office was unavailable for comment earlier this week.
The Thai armed forces need to conscript 97,280 men aged 21 this year – up by 9,828 from 2010.
- AFP
