Activist to run for 'gay' seat
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
A prominent gay activist yesterday announced his decision to run for the Senate as the first gay representative in parliament according to a report in the Bangkok Post today.
According to the the report, Khun Natee Theerarojanaphong, who has 17 years' experience as an HIV/Aids activist raising awareness about Aids and safe sex among high-risk groups, wants to be the first openly gay representative of homosexual people.
"I want to be perceived as a senator for gay people in the same way as Senator Wallop Tungkananurak is widely known as a representative of children and Senator Rabiabrat Pongpanich as a supporter of women's rights," said Mr Natee, who is leader of the Gay Political Group of Thailand (GPGT).
He plans to launch "a 24-hour Natee" campaign to make himself available to gay people for help and counselling.
He believed that entering politics was a great way to draw the attention of the public and media on gay issues, as well as to help change society's attitude towards gay people.
"I want to provide an alternative role model for gay people, particularly the youth, as a normal and serious gay who leads a normal life, apart from the frequent public portrayal of homosexuals as boisterous and flamboyant," he said.
The full text of the article is avilable on the Bangkok Post website.
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