A katoey: neither meat nor fish!

Katoeys or ladyboys are often in the news negatively and – let's be honest – they don't always come out favorably on this blog either. Oh, I do participate in it myself, you know, making jokes about those people, but I also admit that I don't understand their nature of acting and thinking.

The Bangkok Post recently had an interview with a katoey student and I thought that was a good article. Not that I understand everything now, but I have gained a little more understanding. I therefore gladly translated it for thailandblog (sometimes somewhat freely). The title of this story comes from the Bangkok Post:

“It is the time of graduations and graduations and at that ceremony, which took place at Thammasat University, all eyes were on Baramee Phanich's performance. This male social sciences student made headlines by requesting formal permission from the university to dress in female attire for the ceremony. She/he refused to appear as a man in order to circumvent the gender issue.

Baramee, better known by her nickname Denjan, has become a media sensation and has appeared on multiple television news shows. However, her case is more than an apparent sensationalism on the surface: her thesis on which she/he graduated was about “cross-dressing” and the attitude of the community towards this phenomenon. Her decision to even use a medical certificate to support her request to the university sparked backlash and protests from some LGBT advocates.

On the eve of her big day, we talk to Baramee, probably the most photographed graduate of the year.

Has your life changed much since the story became known?
I am now well known in the world of academics. The thesis I wrote has become controversial and has caused much debate among scholars. Some people at work have recognized me from television appearances, but not much has changed in that area. The only significant change is that I am now seen as a speaker who expresses my thoughts and points of view. I have been interviewed by many newspapers and magazines and that has given me the opportunity to propagate my ideals.

Why did you choose to write a thesis about transgender clothing for graduation?
I wanted to make something that could actually be used and not just make a thesis that would disappear in a bookcase somewhere. My professors and advisor have encouraged me to explore this topic in depth. I am also fortunate to have studied at Thammasat, the premier university in it Thailand for law students and law students.

Tell us more about the content of your thesis.
For my thesis, I interviewed some key people, including Nok Yollade (the first transsexual to wear female clothes at graduation), several sociology professors, my psychiatrist, and the vice-chancellor of student affairs at Thammasat University. Some of the topics I address are the basis of freedom and rights, theories of symbols in society and the different types of identities in different genders.

How do you deal with negative comments and people who disagree with you?
It is impossible that everyone agrees with me. There are millions of people with millions of thoughts. That gives color to life or else the world would just be a boring affair.

But I refuse to be a victim of a "psychological" war. Some ladies may wonder why a katoey needs to be dressed in feminine clothing. Is it really the end of the world to just show up as a man and get your hair cut as a man too? However, they are not in my shoes, they do not know how I feel. As I said, there are millions of people and everyone has their own beliefs.

Do you think people are more open minded about this problem these days?
If people don't love you, that's their full right and I respect that. But if people don't understand, I feel it a duty to help them understand. We can solve any problem with reasoning, not asking for sympathy. I'm not going to beg for pity, I'm just begging for me to explain. I will explain the problem to anyone who will listen.

Did you always know you were a woman?
Honestly, if there's a cure for me to be a real man again, I'd go for it. But I can't choose, because my mind has always been like this. It's not because of my upbringing either, because my mother saw as certain signs when I was a toddler. I was brought up as a boy, even a little strict, because my father was in the army, but my spirit has always been female.

The fact that you want to become a monk is controversial.
The only reason is that I want to become a monk for the people I love. My parents don't think it's necessary, they say just be a good person, that's enough. However, it is an unavoidable thought in our faith that parents go to heaven if they have a son who is a monk. My grandmother, whom I love very much, is religious and would like to see me as a monk. But if I could choose, I would like to become a "buad chee" (a nun).

When did you adopt the name Denjan?
My friends call me that after the broadcast of the television drama Dok Som Tong See. They also call me Denapa. When I was born I was nicknamed Den, I've never changed that name because I don't want to hide who I am at all. The name I use on Facebook is Baramee Phanich with Denjan in brackets. Anyone who adds me as a friend knows I'm not a real woman and if they don't, I'll tell them anyway. I could have plastic surgery done on my face, but I don't like that, you can see immediately that it's fake. I'm proud of what my parents gave me and I'm not going to change that.

How do you see your own future?
The future will tell. I would like to work for my ideals and I also dream of becoming a model. I want to support a family for a good and happy life. My happiness is also to be able to take care of my parents and grandmother, as they did for me. I think it is our duty to take care of our parents and to do something good for society”.