Transsexuals are forced to stand in line for army conscription in dresses and skirts as 100,000 21-year-old men are drafted into the Thai military

  • Trans women in Thailand have been forced to attend draft days for the military 
  • Thai law does not allow people to change their gender on their ID documents
  • Trans women can get exemption documents but still have to attend draft day  
  • The event causes embarrassment and stress for many Thai transgender women

By Kelly Mclaughlin For Mailonline

Published: 05:23 EDT, 5 April 2017 | Updated: 19:52 EDT, 5 April 2017

Transgender women across Thailand, who are often known in the country as 'ladyboys', are being forced to attend conscription events for the nation's army despite not identifying as men.

Thailand requires every man over 21 years old attend a 'lottery' day where they must enlist in the military for two years.

Trans women can get exemption certificates, but must still attend the draft day with approximately 100,000 men because Thai law does not allow people to change their gender on their ID documents.

Transgender women across Thailand are being forced to attend conscription events for the nation's army because their IDs still say they are biologically male

Transgender women across Thailand are being forced to attend conscription events for the nation's army because their IDs still say they are biologically male

Thailand requires every man over 21 years old attend a 'lottery' day where they must enlist in the military for two years

Thailand requires every man over 21 years old attend a 'lottery' day where they must enlist in the military for two years

Unless trans women can provide an exemption certificate, they must attend the event because Thai law does not allow people to change their gender on their ID documents

Unless trans women can provide an exemption certificate, they must attend the event because Thai law does not allow people to change their gender on their ID documents

Forcing them to partake has caused embarrassment and stress for many Thai trans women and caused outcry from LGBT communities, Khaosodenglish.com reports.

Among the recruits was Patra Wirunthanakij, the former Miss Mimosa Queen of Thailand, a contest only open to trans women

Among the recruits was Patra Wirunthanakij, the former Miss Mimosa Queen of Thailand, a contest only open to trans women

After a years-long battle, the Administrative Court ordered that biological sex doesn't have to match his or her gender so trans draftees could be exempt from conscription.

Still, trans women must present their exemption documents on the day of the draft to prove they are ineligible.

Among the recruits was Patra Wirunthanakij, better known as Nadia. She is the former Miss Mimosa Queen of Thailand, a contest only open to trans women.

In Thai culture, trans women are often known as 'Katoeys', controversially known in western culture as 'ladyboys'.

Also among the recruits was Rusanan Reuanmoon, who told Thai Visa: 'I don't want to be a soldier. I want to be a woman. I'm not 100 per cent yet as I haven't had my extra bits removed'.

Wisanu Nuanjan, from the Wangthong sub-district of Phrae, added: 'I work in Chiang Mai. I haven't switched over entirely yet.

After a years-long battle, the Administrative Court ordered that biological sex doesn't have to match his or her gender so trans draftees could be exempt from conscription
But if a trans woman doesn't get her exemption documents ahead of the draft, they must participate

After a years-long battle, the Administrative Court ordered that biological sex doesn't have to match his or her gender so trans draftees could be exempt from conscription

At draft days across the country, which are held each year in April, trans women line up with men for hours and find out their fate

At draft days across the country, which are held each year in April, trans women line up with men for hours and find out their fate

Ahead of draft day this year, members of the government, media and LGBT community gathered to discuss guidelines for transgender recruits, saying the process is often 'stressful' as the media turns their attendance into a joke

Ahead of draft day this year, members of the government, media and LGBT community gathered to discuss guidelines for transgender recruits, saying the process is often 'stressful' as the media turns their attendance into a joke

'I have been in many beauty contests and I always come in first. I was scared of being a soldier – it is great not to be chosen'.

At draft days across the country, which are held each year in April, men and trans women line up for hours and find out their fate. 

Photos from Phayao, Phrae and Korat showed hundreds of Thai citizens lining up as part of the process this year.

In Phrae, eight trans women who attended the conscription avoided selection by military officials. Of 500 attendees at the draft day event, only 60 men were chosen. 

Thailand is often considered the trans capital of the world, with more gender reassignment surgeries than any other country. 

Ahead of draft day this year, members of the government, media and LGBT community gathered to discuss guidelines for transgender recruits, saying the process is often 'stressful' as the media turns their attendance into a joke.

'Many in the Thai media still portray such news in a humorous way,' Ronnapoom Samakkeekarom of the Transgender Alliance for Human Rights said. 'Some of them even cause more stress to transgender recruits.'

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