Gay temple offer spurned

Thai gay activists are unhappy after a senior monk complained about the number of gays and kathoey entering the monkhood. He suggested Buddhism may need to set up separate temples for them.

Natee Teerarojjanapong says it is wrong to want to isolate gays and ladyboys, just because they are different. Society is a healthier, more lively place because its diversity, which can hardly flourish if people are kept apart.

Phra Payom Kalayano, abbot of Wat Suan Kaew in Nonthaburi, called for 'gay' temples in an interview with Bangkok Today newspaper, written up in this earlier post, here.

Phra Payom, known for his sense of humour, said increasing numbers of gay males are following in the footsteps of straight men, entering the monkhood when they turn 20, to thank their parents for their hard work in raising them.

Once, few gays entered the monkhood. Today, the abbot says, 5-10% of monks are gay.

They are particularly common in the northern region, while in the North-East, he notices many monks are trying to be gay, but have yet to perfect the art.

He says if the thought of a temple dedicated to gay monks sounds strange, even odder is the fact that so many young men who are gay would want to enter the monkhood.

Senior monks do screen young men who apply to join. However, they cannot be too strict about eliminating gays, as many temples are short of monks. No one wants to see temples end up deserted.

'The parents of gay men who apply to join the monkhood, funnily enough, are also often generous benefactors of temples...if we were to turn away their offspring, there would be trouble.'

The Buddhist canon forbids from entering the monkhood men who have changed their sex, who are obvious lady-boys, or men who have castrated themselves.

Activist Natee says if gays and kathoey make up 5-10% of the population at large, then it should be no surprise if that share is reflected in the number joining the monkhood as well.

President of Gay Politics, Natee said gays held Phra Payom in high respect. However, on this occasion they would have to disagree.

If some individual monks failed to stick by the rules, they should be punished by those rules. He should not lump all gays into one category.

He suggested the abbot set up at his own temple a training ground for monks and novices. Those who refused to fit in could be sent there for instruction on how to change their behaviour.

'If Phra Payom wants to make this offer, then in fairness he should suggest monks who can't leave women alone should be separated from the rest of the flock as well.'

Natee said gays who refuse to fit in might be better leaving the monkhood, as they would enjoy more freedom to wiggle their backsides on the outside.