Thailand expands service for LGBTQ+, especially for transgender

[Gaybutton]

Thailand has become not only tolerant of LGBTQ+, but highly supportive, making Thailand one of the most progressive, if not the most progressive country in the world for the LGBTQ+ community.

While Thailand certainly has its share of problems and things to complain about, based upon the way the way Thailand treats the LGBTQ+ community, I consider it an honor to be permitted to live here.
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Activists hail expanded services for the LGBTQ+ community

by Poramet Tangsathaporn

March 24, 2025

Low-income transgender people are some of the most overlooked members of the LGBTQ+ community, especially when it comes to receiving healthcare services.

Not only do stigma and discrimination persist, but certain treatments like gender-affirming hormone therapy and the use of oestrogen or testosterone to help a person achieve the appearance of their gender identity can still be out of reach for many.

Things are about to change. In late January, the government approved the allocation of 145.63 million baht to the National Health Security Office to provide hormone medicine to 200,000 transgender people.

Local activists applaud the move and say it will benefit those with little or no access to hormones the most.

“The approval of hormonal therapy support under the gold card scheme by the National Health Security Office is important because it can [help] low-income informal workers who are in the golden card scheme but lack access to hormonal therapy support,” said Nachale Boonyapisomparn, vice-president of the Foundation of Transgender Alliance for Human Rights.

“At the same time, it is necessary to expand this service in other provinces or make the service more accessible at the primary stage of healthcare to ensure those who live outside the city get access to this treatment,” she added.

In late January, deputy government spokesman Anukool Pruksanusak said the subsidy for hormonal therapy for 200,000 people was in line with the government’s support for marriage equality.

This would eliminate health risks, particularly among those seeking access to hormonal therapy via informal channels. The support would also create health equity in being able to access the service, formerly available to only those with the means to afford it, said Mr Anukool.

The policy was welcomed by Tlaleng Mofokeng, the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, who visited Thailand in February.

“Previously, this was an out-of-pocket cost thereby preventing access,” she said.

“I urge the National Health Security Office to also be conscious of the multiple ways that transgender people experience violence within the health system and ensure the health system does not operate in a way that further violates or alienates transgender people out of care.”

Dr Mofokeng added that while Thailand has shown progress in healthcare policy, the country still needed to put the rights of the people at the centre of its healthcare system to ensure inclusivity, especially among the most vulnerable and discriminated.

“Globally, the goal of availability, acceptability, accessibility and quality of healthcare is becoming even harder to reach. This is especially true for those in vulnerable situations including, among others indigenous peoples, migrants and refugees, internally displaced people, ethno-religious minority communities, people with disabilities, people deprived of liberty, sex workers, people who use drugs, LGBTIQA+ and gender diverse persons,” she said.

BOOST EDUCATION

Ms Nachale also said health knowledge and health literacy should be promoted more among those receiving the hormones, through the cooperation of both the government and the civil sector.

This is to ensure they are protected from hormones obtained via unofficial channels that might be detrimental to their health, she said, suggesting that disseminating knowledge about hormones on social media might be a suitable way to reach transgenders in their teens, for example.

Ms Nachale said each person has his or her own specific hormonal requirements. Some can take hormones without having to go through gender affirmation surgery at all.

“Hormonal therapy usually continues for those who have undergone surgery as they need to rely on it on a permanent basis,” she added.

Rena Janamnuaysook, Programme Manager at IHRI Tangerine, Asia’s first transgender-focused health clinic, said hormonal therapy costs, dosages and types of medication vary depending on an individual’s needs.

Transgender people who receive therapy at her clinic would spend on average about 5,000–7,000 baht a year, which cover medication and laboratory costs.

Thailand does not have the data on how many transgender people exactly are in need of or are receiving hormonal therapy, said Ms Rena, but there are about 7,000 transgender people being treated at her clinic each year.

“We are the largest transgenders’ clinic in Asia, therefore, we have a very large number of patients,” she added.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... -community

[Dodger]

Most of the ladyboys I know take hormones for the primary purpose of growing their breasts, with the exception of a few I've known who went through sex change surgeries - where I guess hormones are sometimes prescribed for medical purposes following the surgery.

In any event, the use of hormones for these purposes is totally voluntary and not the result of any medical injury or illness, thus the reason I'm a bit surprised about this new government sponsored service. Not that I would be confused about any promotional opportunities this may create.

I've seen many cases up-country where ladyboys as young as 12-14 start taking hormones. Not only can they be seem running around the villages with small breasts, but, as we all know, their voices usually change by several octaves as they start developing other feminine characteristics. This has always amazed me.

I can see it now: If they legalize prostitution and provide free hormone coverage we'll probably see an upswing in str84pay boys running around with tits...LOL

[Jun]

I don't think people should be allowed to take hormones to promote the growth of tits until they are 18. Let them decide when they are adults.

Secondly, if this happened in my country, I wouldn't be happy if the taxpayer were expected to fund such things. Public healthcare should be about maintaining good health, not optional cosmetic changes. By all means take hormones when you are of a suitable age to decide, but pay for it yourself.

Thirdly, is this discriminatory, if they fund female hormones and not male hormones ?

[Gaybutton]

Thirdly, is this discriminatory, if they fund female hormones and not male hormones ?

gender-affirming hormone therapy and the use of oestrogen or testosterone

Last time I checked, testosterone was still a male hormone . . .

I also disagree with you about good health. In my opinion good mental health is just as important as good physical health. I have never understood why some people feel a need to change their gender identity. But I don't need to understand. The people who, for whatever reason, are unhappy with their biological gender identity and feel as if they are trapped in the wrong body - they're the ones who need to understand. Since the ability now exists for them to alter it, I see no reason to deny them if their mental well being depends on it.

How would you like to be trapped in the body I've got . . . ?

[Jun]

Last time I checked, testosterone was still a male hormone . . .

I missed that.
But that's just the preamble, rather than saying it will be funded.
They don't actually tell us which hormones will be funded, but the remainder of the article is mainly about transgender.

The people who, for whatever reason, are unhappy with their biological gender identity and feel as if they are trapped in the wrong body, since the ability now exists for them to alter it, I see no reason to deny them if their mental well being depends on it.

How would you like to be trapped in the body I've got . . . ?

It's all about priorities.
In many countries there are people with all sorts of health conditions that cause pain and restrict mobility, yet they often have to wait a long time to get treatment. I doubt Thai state funded healthcare is comprehensive, so why fund optional items ?
As for trapped in the wrong body, well my fitness is something I could improve myself, but I'm trapped with a 50 something face. Should I expect the taxpayer to fund the plastic surgery ?
No. A little stoicism is called for.

[Gaybutton]

They don't actually tell us which hormones will be funded, but the remainder of the article is mainly about transgender.

Doesn't transgender apply to both sexes? Whatever Thailand is going to do, I think that's much better than doing nothing to help these people rather than stigmatizing and persecuting them as so many other countries do. If the government wants to fund it, I'm all for it. I believe that beats hell out of some of the things they do fund.

If this does get funded, I have no reason to think it will apply only to females. We'll find out soon enough.

[Jun]

Doesn't transgender apply to both sexes?

Well I was going to ask about that.
All the examples of transgender that I know of involve males adding breasts by one means or another.

There are tomboys, but do they do any more than a very good job of dressing up as males ?
Do they ever take male hormones ? I'm not aware of it.

I agree that the Thai attitude beats persecution, as would probably happen in many countries.

[Gaybutton]

There are tomboys, but do they do any more than a very good job of dressing up as males ?
Do they ever take male hormones ?

Does that matter? The point is the availability if that's what they want to do. Besides, if only a very few tomboys, or even none at all, actually make the transition, that goes hand-in-hand with opposition to public funding. The fewer who do it, the less spent on public funding.

[Gaybutton]

Should I expect the taxpayer to fund the plastic surgery ?

In my case I wouldn't be surprised if people take one look and donate to pay for it . . .

[Jun]

Does that matter? The point is the availability if that's what they want to do.

I'm asking mainly out of interest.

Although, for much of history, males have been considered as more important than females. They still are in many countries. Yet, we have males "trapped in male bodies" desperate to have breasts etc.
I'm not aware of similar demand to move in the opposite direction.