bmxer Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 I am wondering if there is any movement in this LB community to help LBs and further their rights within LOS. While we all enjoy LBs and some are in LTR with LBs there seems to be lacking in support for LBs and their status in society. Beyond sexual gratification are many members here concerned about the wellfare of LBs and in general making their lot better? I think this is distinct from the gay rights movement as LBs do not face the same issues as gays. They are now making up a significant minority in LOS but I do not think they are being afforded the rights that they deserve, given that most of them are genuinely beautiful people who deserve a fair go. Are there any movements and societies that anyone knows of? We all share a passion for them and it would be nice to know that extends beyond treating them as just objects, but rather they are a valued part of society that provide happiness for so many of us, that I don't think they get reciprocated in their lives. Financially yes, they can do well from our "support" but what if anything is being done to further their standing in society, where I believe they should be treated as equals? I'm interested to know if anyone else knows much about this, or if anyone shares similar thoughts? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenW Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 Good thoughts and sentiments bmxer. But don't just fixate like too many guys do on Thailand. Sure it owns most of the world's LBs, but not all. LBs are a global issue. I don't know any support groups or networks of the kind you suggest. But there are groups I subscribe to and follow on twitter that are mostly concerned with STI issues, that's the bare facts, and for LGBT in general rather than LBs specifically. I think what you hint at is true, even among my beloved bretheren here, that for most of us they are meat, not real people with political issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rxpharm Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 There is a group called SIsters in Pattaya. It is an NGO working with the trangendered in Pattaya. In fact this event http://www.ladyboyre...-the-year-2012/ will be donating some of the raised funds to this group. There is also Transgendered Female Association of Thailand http://www.tf101.com/intro_ad.php - who's founder is Nok Yollada featured in one of the recent episodes of the Sky documentary on ladyboys. This group is focused more on lbs who want SRS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdogg Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 Here's some info about Sisters. I think much of their funding is based on HIV prevention so I believe they have both a health and empowerment mission. This case study from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)'s AIDSTAR-One (AIDS Support and Technical Assistance Resources, Sector 1, Task Order 1, explores the communication strategies developed by the organisation Sisters, which, since 2004, has sought to offer a safe and welcoming place for transgender (TG) people across Thailand's Chonburi province to seek friendship and support, as well as to encourage the practice of preventive behaviours, such as regular HIV testing and counseling (HTC) and screening for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). "TG persons are active as leaders, staff, and volunteers at the Sisters service center and in the provincial response to HIV. The result of this leadership has been cross-sector partnerships that maximize the quality and sensitivity of provincial services for TG people and promote an environment for ongoing health-seeking among TG people." Sisters' service model is designed to help TG people in Pattaya access the health system, providing a safe place for health education, welfare services, and overall support. The programme aims to promote positive behaviours and practices to prevent STI and HIV transmission among its TG clients and partners through outreach education at the places where TG people gather and through referrals to health service providers, to which Sisters' staff accompany clients. The programme's team includes five core staff members, of which four are TG persons. Additionally, a TG volunteer team supports the staff in the various support activities. Sisters offers a drop-in centre; twice-weekly, a TG-licensed nurse provides HTC for a 2-hour period in a private room in the drop-in centre. Sisters' outreach staff and volunteers also visit the places where TG people gather in Pattaya to promote HTC and distribute condoms, lubricant, and information about HIV and STIs, including information about care and support to assist HIV-positive TG people. Sisters' specialised TG services are designed to enable clients to benefit from peer-based support. Furthermore, "Sisters has developed relationships with HIV- and other health-related organizations in Pattaya so that TG people feel comfortable being seen." Since its inception, Sisters' client data show a fivefold increase in the number of TG people attending services, with client numbers growing from 261 individual clients in 2006 to 1,311 individual clients in 2010. In September 2011, Sisters became one of the sites in the Thailand Ministry of Public Health rapid HIV testing pilot programme; in a 4-month period, 128 clients have been tested and received results, a greater number than those tested for the entire year in 2010. (For other results of cross-sectional surveys carried out by Population Services International (PSI), see the "Results" section of the case study.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenW Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 But don't just fixate like too many guys do on Thailand. Sure it owns most of the world's LBs, but not all. LBs are a global issue. I also said in that above post I didn't know of any networks in Thailand. Wrong. I woke up in bed this morning realising I do. Empower is the one that comes first to mind. Now this, and the others I'll mention are for sex workers in general, but of course as these are all tolerant and inclusive organisations the full LGBT spectrum of concerns gets aired. The 2 that I subscribe to and follow are: apnsw - the Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers PLRI - the Paolo Longo Research Institute. The agenda of the former is fairly obvious from its name. The latter is a cluster of researchers and sex workers who are active in all sorts of areas on behalf of LGBT and sex workers in general, in health, in global & local politics, etc. In fact it would be an extremely useful piece of activism to encourage and educate LB sex workers in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, etc., to be aware of and take part in these wider forums, as they have quite considerable power and clout. EDIT: it also occurs to me that this important thread should be taken out of the Thailand slot and placed into the more general Ladyboy Discussion section. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hefe Posted July 7, 2012 Share Posted July 7, 2012 Some of the girls in Cebu affiliated with the university there have started a rights & consciousness raising group called "COLORS". The bakla in the PI are considered very low class & are only accepted as comic figures, or working in beauty/fashion jobs, so there is a weird juxtaposition of a lot of very obvious ladyboys & femboys around the society but they have a hard time getting decent work or respect sometimes. https://www.facebook...lors.104?ref=ts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hefe Posted July 7, 2012 Share Posted July 7, 2012 Also..... a larger national TG group in Manila: The Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines (STRAP) is the pioneer transgender rights advocacy and support organization in the Philippines. Mission STRAP envisions a nurturing society that affirms, respects ,and upholds the dignity, the right to self determination and good quality of life of all. The organization encourages all transpinays (transsexual Fillipinas) to empower themselves and to live a life that inspires. http://www.tsphilippines.com/ They travel all around the country, & the world, talking about these issues. I remember when one of them gave a speech at the UN a couple of years ago. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenW Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 EDIT: it also occurs to me that this important thread should be taken out of the Thailand slot and placed into the more general Ladyboy Discussion section. Hefe's excellent & informative posts above reinforce my point. Mods? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdogg Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 Hefe's excellent & informative posts above reinforce my point. Mods? Moved to Ladyboy Discussion subforum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenW Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 Moved to Ladyboy Discussion subforum. Thank you pd. Makes more sense in a general thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdogg Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 This website is mostly in Thai but may be of interest: http://www.tf101.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rxpharm Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 pdogg - I mentioned that group in my previous post. There is also Transgendered Female Association of Thailand http://www.tf101.com/intro_ad.php - who's founder is Nok Yollada featured in one of the recent episodes of the Sky documentary on ladyboys. This group is focused more on lbs who want SRS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmxer Posted July 11, 2012 Author Share Posted July 11, 2012 So basically there doesn't seem to be that much support out there for them which is sad. Amazing to think that STRAP was the first one formed only in 2002. But glad to see that some of you guys take an interest in these issues also. Really, for the amount of tourist $$ they generate for the Thai economy for example, the govt should be doing more for them. They are a multimillion dollar export earner, as for many LBs is one of the attractions in LOS, and for us easily the biggest drawcard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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