Originally published here.

The public sector in Thailand possesses hostile attitudes and policies that target members ofthe LGBT community. Many studies demonstrate that LGBT government officers facediscriminations, pressures and violence in their workplace due to their sexual orientation, genderidentity and expression (SOGIE). This research offers an overview of the issue with two priorities.

The first priority focuses on gender sensitivity, while the second identifies actions or measures thatgovernment agencies can implement to combat discrimination based on SOGIE. This research isbased on in-depth interviews with LGBT officers in Bangkok and across various provinces in Thailand.

Findings reveal that LGBT officers faced discrimination, stigmatization and violence indifferent ways depending on their SOGIE. Transgender individuals are the most vulnerable, and theystruggle to live and express their gender identity, which is at odds with the gender recognized bythe government corresponding to their sex assigned at birth.

Moreover, internal regulations andrules in the government system are based on the binary of biological sex. Some transgenderindividuals are forced to wear uniforms corresponding to their biological sex, even after had gonethrough process of gender transitioning.

This article offers different policy recommendations andchanges to the government system and policy makinge that can produce a paradigm shift from thebinary of sex to a diversity of gender and sexual identities. This transformative perspective will bring about more inclusive policies and measures towards substantive gender equality.

You can read the complete article here.