Sad Thai Dad (1)

Here's a story about a Thai father who discovered by accident that his son is gay. He left his story over two days at the Pantip webboard.

Day 1

A father says he paid a surprise visit to his teenage son at school, and discovered a different boy from the subdued individual he knows at home. His son acted the extrovert queen in front of his friends, and had even joined the cheerleading team.

The father says he was appalled, beat his son, and told him he was not to join an upcoming cheerleading competition.

His son spent his days in front of the computer and said little, except to his Mum, in whom he confides.

The father asked the large community of Pantip readers whether he should confine his son to his room on the day of the cheerleading meet, to stop his character being contaminated any further.

His biggest fear, he said, was that kids from his son's school would walk past his house and jeer: 'Kathoey [fag!]!'

More than 100 people responded, mostly backing the boy and urging the father to show more understanding.

Kathoey were born, not made, so it was not his fault. No one wanted to be that way, they said.

To the extent they are made, then the father only has himself to blame, for neglecting his son, or failing to show him affection. That made him draw closer to his Mum, and look elsewhere for role models on how to behave.

One woman said she had four brothers at home. One, the oldest, had changed his sex; the next oldest one was a gay king. She was born next, followed by another brother, who was a 'real man', but died early this year.

She had a second younger brother, a kathoey (ladyboy) – who if he saved money as well as his oldest brother, would have changed sex by now too. Her Mum and Dad could do nothing but accept what their children had become. All were performing members of society, with good jobs, so why not?

Now, see part 2