THAILAND

THAILAND: Universities ban graduation cross-dressing

A council of Thai university presidents has turned down a request from a transvestites' advocacy group to cross-dress at graduation ceremonies as "inappropriate", media reports said last weekend, reports Thaindian News.

Siroj Pholphanthin, head of the council of Rajabhat Universities' presidents, said it would be inappropriate for male students to dress in female clothes at graduation ceremonies, because their degrees are handed out by members of the royal family, The Nation newspaper reported. He added that if male transvestites were allowed to cross-dress it would encourage women with transgender inclinations to seek similar treatment.

The Transvestite Network of Thailand had submitted a request to the education ministry to cancel regulations forcing transgender men to wear male uniforms at classes, exams and graduation ceremonies, arguing that the dress code caused mental stress.
Full report on the Thaindian News site