Laos tackles transgender taboos

I just want to be accepted and
not separated from the rest of society.

via BBC News

A new drive to contain the spread of HIV/Aids in Laos is forcing officials to recognise a marginalised group - transgender men known as "katheoy". The BBC's Jill McGivering went to meet some of them in the capital, Vientiane.

Khom was born male.

But she has thought of herself as female since she was about nine years old.

Now 28, she could easily be accepted as a woman. She has long, styled hair, make-up, and a gentle, feminine manner.

But when she talks about her experiences of being "katheoy" in Laos, her voice is solemn. They're not fully accepted, she says.

She uses the example of trying to find a job. If she fills in an application form, it always needs a photograph as well. The selectors look at his gender - "male" - and at the photograph. It goes in the wastepaper bin, and she never gets called for interview.

High-risk

But after being largely ignored for so long, katheoys like Khom are suddenly the focus of attention from the Lao government. Some are "long-haired" katheoys like Khom, who present themselves as women. Others are "short-haired" katheoys who present themselves as men.

Both groups have sex with men.

They have emerged as the country's highest risk group for HIV/Aids - and are now the target of a special campaign.

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