#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016291

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Bangkok’s new governor Chadchart Sitthiphan marked Pride Month 2022 by planting rainbow flags in central Bangkok on Saturday to symbolise support for gender diversity and the LGBTQIA+ community.

Planting flags alongside Chadchart were his deputy Sanon Wangsangboon, chief adviser Torsak Chotimongkol and secretary Pimuk Simaroj. The activity was held at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre in Bangkok’s Pathumwan district.

“Pride Month is a celebration of gender diversity to support the culture and rights of LGBTQIA+ group, as well as to remember people in this community who have lost their lives to HIV/Aids,” said Chadchart.

The term LGBTQIA+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual, queer/questioning, intersexual, asexual and others like non-binary and pansexual.

“The celebration is held in June every year to commemorate the Stonewall incident in 1969 in New York City,” he said.

He was referring to the June 28, 1969, police raid of the Stonewall Inn in New York’s Greenwich Village that sparked a series of rallies by members of the gay community. It is believed that this uprising served as a catalyst for the gay rights movement.

Since then, the month of June is devoted to celebrations of love, acceptance, diversity and self-pride across the globe.

“The Pride Month celebration should not just be limited to people from the LGBTQIA+ community,” he said. “Rather, we should use it to promote social agenda in which all members can live together in harmony despite their diversity, with full understanding and acceptance of each other. Everyone should have the right to express their identity under the limits and protection of the law, as well as the right to equal benefits.

“Pride Month does not just represent diversity in gender, but also diversity in ideology, political beliefs and opinion,” the governor said. “We can be different, but we will not fight or hate each other because of said differences. Bangkok will take care of every citizen under the principles of democracy and equality. There will be no discrimination against people of a certain group.”

Chadchart added that he has given policy guidelines to Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) officials to ensure they have a full understanding of gender diversity and provide equal treatment to everybody, regardless of age, race and gender. The guidelines specify that:

• BMA agencies must unconditionally accept and promote equality in society.

• BMA officials must undergo training on acceptable behaviour towards everybody, especially those of diverse gender, with a focus on acceptance and understanding.

• Platforms must be set up for people to file complaints about inequality.

• Officials will not be forced to wear uniforms based on their birth gender.

• BMA agencies must set up rules to prevent sexual harassment at workplaces.

“The BMA is also planning to open more gender health clinics at hospitals under its jurisdiction that provide medical advice, medication, hormone and other treatment for gender diverse persons. These clinics are only available at Chulalongkorn and Ramathibodi hospitals,” he said.

Published : June 04, 2022

By : THE NATION