Prejudice in the academy

Kath Khangpiboon has a problem with Thammasat University. It’s a serious problem, insidious and corrosive. As detailed in this newspaper and likely to end up becoming a court case, the university rated her as a qualified lecturer and offered her a job. Then, university officials suddenly reversed their decision, withdrew the employment offer without giving a reason — and went completely silent. Ms Kath and the majority of people who have looked into the case believe the state university has decided she can’t have the job because Ms Kath identifies as transgender.

Thais and many foreign friends like to think Thailand is at least one of the most tolerant countries in the world. In fact, the nation has been called “the most tolerant” country on matters concerning LGBT — lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Because of this, there is an entire travel sector dealing in trips to Thailand by those communities. In sheer numbers, Thailand is the leading country in the world — bar none — in surgery for transsexuals. Polish member of parliament Anna Grodzka openly brags of her operation in Bangkok, and unswervingly recommends Thailand for any person considering this procedure.

There is a downside to all this, however, and it is an ugly contrast. On the surface, Thailand has indeed earned a reputation citizens can be proud of, as tolerant to those who might be shunned, beaten, imprisoned or even hanged by the state for their conduct or dress. The ugly, intolerant and intolerable mood of anti-LGBT is there, though, and even worse in some ways when hidden by a smile than with the open hostility seen in many other countries.

For all the “tolerance” of Thailand, a transgender person is not allowed to carry an ID card that states the obvious. Declared male at birth, for example, Ms Kath — and thousands of others — are male until death under state rules. Thus, the “logic” of rather obvious females being required to show up on military conscription day, made objects of ridicule and then sent away. Until recently, their rejection included an official government paper declaring them unfit because of mental defects.

Defenders of Thammasat’s hesitation over Ms Kath say any teacher at the top-ranked university must be a role model. And these people are right. For now at least, Thammasat’s hierarchy faces questions over whether it is a role model for respecting sexual diversity. Ms Kath, openly showing her pride and self-esteem, is the role model in this picture.

There are claims that Thammasat is already open-minded towards the LGBT community. After all, some lecturers at Thammasat are gay, others transgender.

This is known as the argument of tokens, and informal debaters refer to it as the “some of my best friends are...” position. Ms Kath believes she is the first fully qualified, transgendered person to apply at Thammasat and declare she intends to wear female clothing.

The famous Thai tolerance is actually part of Ms Kath’s difficulties with Thammasat. A hateful regime would reject her quickly if not violently. Thammasat officials cannot do that. So they must seem to be considering her academic status when the real problem is that the old, elite patriarchy is hard at work trying to think of a way to get rid of her without seeming to offend society.

Surely the university and its entire student body would be better off if administrators simply do the right thing.

Thammasat’s hierarchy faces questions over whether it is a role model for respecting sexual diversity.