Acronym soup

Re: “Groups draft wellbeing plan LGBTIQN+”, (BP, Sept 24).

The article says that “LGBTIQN+, according to ThaiHealth, stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, and Non-Binary — gender identities that are identified outside the gender binary of masculine and feminine”. This is utterly false and outrageous. L, G and B are sexual orientations, not gender identities, and the vast majority of lesbian, gay and bisexual people are perfectly comfortable with their gender being the same as their biological sex (feminine for lesbians, masculine for gays, etc).

Telling them they are not of the gender they have identified with all their life is what they call mis-gendering. It is unfair treatment and discrimination, and can only be detrimental to their physical, mental and intellectual health. Children that have different sexual orientations are most vulnerable to this and should be protected.

Lesbian, gay and bisexual groups (which are not gender groups anyway) should denounce this, boycott and block this plan, and, wherever possible, file complaints against ThaiHealth and groups and academics with these discriminatory views under available laws and statutes that ban gender discrimination and protect public health.

GAY READER