Is Thailand Really LGBTQ Friendly? It's Complicated [S5.E45]
The Bangkok Podcast25 Tammi 2022

Is Thailand Really LGBTQ Friendly? It's Complicated [S5.E45]

Greg interviews Benjamin Lord, an American who moved to Asia straight out of college at NYU. He is on the show to discuss life as a gay man in Thailand. After spending several years in Vietnam, where the pressure to hide his status was suffocating, he eventually relocated to Bangkok. At first, the prevalence of gay bars, trans people, and apparent acceptance of a gay lifestyle led Benjamin to believe that Thailand was a kind of gay paradise, a moniker often placed on the Land of Smiles.

However, over the years he has developed a much subtler view of the acceptance of homosexuality in Thai society. Although Benjamin doesn't fear for his physical safety in the same way he did in his birthplace of Arkansas, he is now aware that many Thai families stick to 'traditional values' and reject and may even disown their own children who are gay or trans.

Further, the lack of true legal equality for LGBTQ people in Thailand has become more apparent in many ways, the most obvious of which was the recent Constitutional Court decision that stated that marriage is only between a man and a woman. Greg and Benjamin discuss the reaction of the LGBTQ community to the ruling and how a lack of 'positive rights' demonstrates that Thailand really is a very conservative society in many ways, regardless of the 'niceness' on the surface.

Don't forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. And we'll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.

Jaksot(561)

Phra Pandit Discusses What Buddhism Says About Sex [S8.E39]

Phra Pandit Discusses What Buddhism Says About Sex [S8.E39]

Greg meets with mega, super, return guest Phra Pandit to discuss Buddhist teachings regarding sex, a conversation prompted by recent scandals involving women extorting monks. Phra Pandit explains that...

8 Huhti 39min

That Thing All Thais Do? Yeah, No They Don't

That Thing All Thais Do? Yeah, No They Don't

Greg and Ed explore common Thai stereotypes and symbols that are heavily associated with Thailand internationally, yet play a surprisingly small role in the daily lives of average Thai citizens. They ...

31 Maalis 33min

Author Chris Baker Discusses Thai History, Culture & Conflict [S8.E37] (Classic ReCast)

Author Chris Baker Discusses Thai History, Culture & Conflict [S8.E37] (Classic ReCast)

Greg and Ed interview expat legend Chris Baker, co-author (along with his wife Pasuk Phongpaichit) of A History of Thailand, in addition to several other well-known books on Thailand. Greg and Ed gush...

24 Maalis 55min

New Frontiers: A (Literal) Conversation With Ed's AI Assistant About Podcasting [S8.E36]

New Frontiers: A (Literal) Conversation With Ed's AI Assistant About Podcasting [S8.E36]

In a special main show, Greg and Ed interview Hal, Ed's OpenClaw bot about his knowledge of the Bangkok Podcast. The guys begin the show discussing their mutual obsession with AI but also explain how ...

17 Maalis 37min

Photographer Tim Russell on the Fading Glory of Hualamphong Station [S8.E34] (Classic ReCast)

Photographer Tim Russell on the Fading Glory of Hualamphong Station [S8.E34] (Classic ReCast)

In a ReCast episode from season 7, Greg interviews well known Bangkok-based photographer Tim Russell about his book 'Bangkok Station,' which focuses (literally) on the iconic and now mostly defunct Hu...

4 Maalis 44min

Linguist Rikker Dockum on the Royal Institute's Thai Language Oversight [S8.E33] (Classic ReCast)

Linguist Rikker Dockum on the Royal Institute's Thai Language Oversight [S8.E33] (Classic ReCast)

Greg interviews old friend of the podcast Rikker Dockum, Thai language expert extraordinaire about the Thai Royal Society, an organization dedicated to overseeing, promoting and regulating the Thai la...

24 Helmi 50min

Election Analysis: Young Thais, Old Parties...New Tricks? [S8E32]

Election Analysis: Young Thais, Old Parties...New Tricks? [S8E32]

Tech Fail Alert! The last 5 minutes of our discussion was cut off by dastardly internet Gremlins, but we said most of what we wanted to say anyway.  In a follow-up to the recent Thai election, Greg an...

17 Helmi 32min

Greg & Ed Discuss Ed's Big Thailand Quiz [S8.E31]

Greg & Ed Discuss Ed's Big Thailand Quiz [S8.E31]

In a followup to a recent episode, Greg and Ed walk through the entire 'Facts About Thailand' quiz that Ed gave his Thai Society students. It's a broad test of Thailand - geography, history, politics,...

10 Helmi 41min

Suosittua kategoriassa Yhteiskunta

olipa-kerran-otsikko
sita
siita-on-vaikea-puhua
gogin-ja-janin-maailmanhistoria
i-dont-like-mondays
kaksi-aitia
uutiscast
poks
antin-palautepalvelu
rss-nikotellen
kolme-kaannekohtaa
mamma-mia
yopuolen-tarinoita-2
rss-murhan-anatomia
aikalisa
meidan-pitais-puhua
rss-haudattu
rss-palmujen-varjoissa
isani-on-terapeuttiville
mystista