While discussions about all forms of LGBTQIA+ have flared up in Western countries, the third gender has a long tradition in Thailand. The number of "ladyboys", as transgender people are called in Thailand, is increasing year after year in the "Land of Smiles". Thai society has become more enlightened and open, not least due to the Internet, and more and more young men feel encouraged to "come out" if they believe they were born in the wrong body. Experts estimate that in a survey, up to 300,000 Thai men would state "female" as gender. Statistically, every twentieth of the 20- to 30-year-old Thais is transgender.
"Land of 300,000 Ladyboys" provides vivid information about this typical Thai phenomenon. Particularly worth reading is the second part of the book, in which the ladyboys themselves have their say. 42 transgender people tell their stories and describe their personal life situations. Many openly express what they think and how they feel. How they live and usually suffer.
The interviews were conducted by the author in 2021/22 in Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket. Transgender people aged 15 to 35 were surveyed. Not infrequently, the descriptions are dramatic and awaken a feeling of empathy. Portrait photos of the interviewees, taken promptly, can be found on each page of the interviews. This creates a "close-up" visual reference to each ladyboy for the reader.
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