Gay adventures in Silom (part 1)

A young Thai says he is constantly getting hit on by young guys. Whenever he goes to Silom, he says, male strangers greet him. Some ask for his phone number, which he gives, before handing over his own. One even asked him straight out if he was a gay king or queen.

The young man, who left his funny tale at the Pantip webboard, says he has never had any kind of s*exual contact with men before, and so does not regard himself as gay.

He is reluctant to conclude that all the men who took an interest in him were gay themselves, though he did notice that they were good-looking.

Let's call him Mr Innocent. He says he had heard women complain that these days, all the good-looking guys are gay.

'What is it about my appearance that makes me eye-catching to good-looking guys?' he asks. 'I never get greetings from women, just men.'

Most of these greetings happen when he is in Silom Rd, or Suan Lum Night Bazaar. They have also taken place at the King Rama 6 statue, which is nearby.

Some days, he can be greeted by strangers once, twice, or more. While sitting having a meal, strangers have asked to join him. 'Are you here alone?' they ask.

They ask for his phone number. When he gets home, he calls them - out of courtesy, he says.

'I don't know how many times this has happened now - strangers just start talking. At Suan Lum, guys have greeted me. Going for a walk in Robinson's department store, guys say hello there, too.'

Mr Innocent, who does not give his age, says he has now stopped going to Suan Lum, as he was getting sick of the attention.

He asks fellow Pantip readers what are the specs for the average gay man - Handsome? Tall? Fresh-faced? - because he suspects he might fit them.

He knows that for a man to ask another guy who he has never met whether he is a gay king or queen is being forward, to say the least.

'It is like a guy walking up to a woman he does not know and asking if she has ever slept with a man,' he says.

'A man who asked a woman that question would probably get his face slapped. But men probably wouldn't mind being asked by other men. I can answer without thinking too much: ''I don't know, as I have never had s*exual contact with another man.''

'However, I would also assume that the person asking is himself gay.'

Mr Innocent says that when he calls back his admirers, he asks them not to talk about s*ex. Many of the guys he calls have indeed fancied his looks, but he knows from reading about the subject that many gays just want someone to understand them.

now, see part 2