In the Southern province of Trang, a temple built separate bathrooms for “ladyboys” and “butch’s” as a way to make LGBT Buddhists feel welcome.
Photos of the toilets at Sarikaram Temple circulated online this week. Besides the obvious men’s and women’s, the signs on the other two bathrooms read the Thai words “toot,” which is a derogative term for gay men and transgender women, and “tom” a Thai term to describe woman with a masculine identity.
The sign read: “Toms’ Toilet.” Photo: Opas Nakrit
According to the temple’s abbot, Phra Kru Sangwornthamwimol, the people who come to the temple are of all genders and most places only have bathrooms for men and women so the “third-genders are shy to use them.”
Nice gesture, but a little outdated, sir.
The abbot said we all should accept the LGBT people and “give them a chance.” To express his acceptance, he built two more bathrooms for them earlier this year, Daily News reported.
The abbot said many LGBT people who use the bathrooms have thanked him for his open mind.
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