TV soaps are bad for you

Is Thai television slipping in too many gay and kathoey roles into its nightly dramas, asks Kom Chad Leuk newspaper?

The paper has noticed a profusion of gay and kathoey roles in television soaps, and is worried about the influence they may be having on the nation's young.

Recent or upcoming television series with gay and kathoey roles include the drama Botun Kleep Sut Thai, comedy Sapai Look Tung, and ghost story Heep Lohn Son Winyan. Two others are Channel 7's Khun Noo Tewada, and Nam Tan Mai, which recently started filming.

In most cases the gays or kathoey are there for comedy relief. However, in Botun Kleep Sut Thai, the gay character plays a more prominent role. Played by 'Ta' Warit, he is gay, but marries and has children. While his parents are unaware of his identity, his wife discovers he has had a gay relationship with a young man.

'The series sends the message that stories like this occur in everyday life; but that whatever your sexual identity may be, we hope you are a good person - that is enough,' the newspaper said.

In Sapai Look Tung the message is similar. The gay role is taken by actor 'Job' Nithi Samutkojorn (จ๊อบ" นิธิ สมุทรโคจร), who disguises from his family his preference for men.

'The message is that while in some cases your family may not accept you if you come out, if you are a good person then there is a good chance they will.'

Nonetheless, in Heep Lohn Son Winyan, the gay character, played by 'Eak' Eakachai Euasangkomset (เอก เอกชัย เอื้อสังคมเศรษฐ์), is way out there - no hiding in the closet for him. 

Meanwhile, in Khun Noo Tewada, the gay character played by 'Klom' Noppon Pithakloopanich (กลม นพพล พิทักษ์โล่พานิช) is best friends with the male lead, played by 'Weir' Sukolwat.

Perhaps because he is there for comedy relief, he is also the stand-out character in the cast.

'Even though this story presents gays in an endearing way, if parents aren't there to give advice, young ones could end up emulating the behaviour of the gay character,' Kom Chad Leuk intones.

More gay roles are coming to television screens. Ta Warit, plays the married gay man in Botun Kleep Sut Thai, has taken on another gay role in Nam Tan Mai - his second in a row. This one has only started filming. 'Watch this space,' the paper says.

Kom Chad Leuk spoke to the Department of Mental Health about the potential influence on young minds of gay characters on television.

Department spokesman Taweesil Witsanuyothin says television dramas reflect what is already happening in society. TV dramas have more gay characters, because gays, kathoey and lesbians are popping up more often in society at large.

However, he still thinks young people are susceptible to mimicking the behaviour they see on television.

'After watching gays on television, young viewers could end up being gay themselves...though we cannot say for sure what causes people to be gay. It could be in the hormones, genes, something which takes place in the womb,' he said.

'Another possibility is that a young person who is gay but in the closet, may end up imitating what he sees on television, and start acting gay as well. For that reason, television has to be careful about the gay characters it presents on TV.'

Dr Taweesil claims Thai gays are relatively open about expressing themselves, while their counterparts elsewhere in Asia, such as Korea and Japan, are still inclined to keep such things hidden.

Thai girls getting around with shaven heads and mini-skirts are an example of the pervasive influence of the media, he reckons.

'Thais are becoming more open, but in places like Japan and Korea, people are still hiding...they are not game to show themselves. If Thais are more open about it, it could be as a result of the media,' he says.