Transgenders in parliament?

Former beauty queen Nok determined to represent transgenders in parliament. Nok's free sex-change idea made her controversial in the past.

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Trans woman standing for election in Nan

25/04/2012

A trans woman has registered as an election candidate for the Nan Provincial Administrative Organisation.

"I want to represent the trans women and all groups of homosexuals across the country in parliament and press the government to pay more interest to women and trans women," Yollada "Nok" Suanyot, president of the TransFemale Association of Thailand, said on Wednesday.

Mr Yollada, 30, said he believed that he will be part of a new wave of politicians who will garner support from the transgender group because he had taken part in many social activities.

The former transgender beauty queen had in the past campaigned for the Thai society to change the term from "homosexuals" to "transgenders" and proposed a project to provide free sex-change operations, which led to a wide debate in the country.

Mr Yollada, who receives backing from people in the entertainment industry, is competing against two male candidates - Pawat Sattayawong and Suchart Jitbanjong - in constituency 1 in tambon Nai Wiang in Nan's Muang district.

The elections will be held on May 27, 2012 in 24 constituencies in 15 districts.

This is also the first time in Thailand that a trans gender is taking part in a provincial election.

Mr Yollanda was once arrested for participating in a beauty pageant with a fake ID card.

(Source: Bangkok Post, Trans woman standing for election in Nan, 25/04/2012, link) 

Transgender Vocabulary

transgender - a man who has changed into a woman or a woman who has changed into a man (and they come very close sometimes) (See Wikipedia)
gender - the fact of being either male or female เพศ the differences between men and women (including biological and social) (See Wikipedia)
trans woman - a man who has changed into a woman

sex-change operation - reshaping the man's sexual organs (penis, scrotum) so that they have the appearance and function of female sexual organs, hormone replacement therapy to give the person the hormones of a woman,  facial hair removal, facial feminization surgery and various other procedures may be included (See Wikipedia) ผ่าตัดแปลงเพศ

election - the process of choosing a person or a group of person for a position, especially by voting elect (v) electoral (adj) synonym: the polls การเลือกตั้ง
standing for election - is a candidate that people can vote for in an election

Trans woman standing for election in Nan

election candidate -  a person who is trying to win an elected position ผู้สมัคร
candidate - Same as "election candidate"
registered - officially recorded on an official list with the government  
registered as an election candidate - officially recorded by the government as being in an election (running in an election) 
Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) - the name of the government of a province in Thailand

A trans woman has registered as an election candidate for the Nan Provincial Administrative Organisation.

represent - to act, speak or be present officially for another person or people เป็นตัวแทน
homosexuals - men who have sex only with other men, or moergenerally:  "romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation" (See Wikipedia)
parliament - the legislature or group of elected politicians that make the laws of a country รัฐสภา (See Wikipedia)
press X to do Y - force or push person X to do Y
press the government to pay more interest to women and trans women
interest -
pay  interest to 
pay more interest to women and trans women

"I want to represent the trans women and all groups of homosexuals across the country in parliament and press the government to pay more interest to women and trans women," Yollada "Nok" Suanyot, president of the TransFemale Association of Thailand, said on Wednesday.

wave - an activity or situation which is happening again or is being repeated after a pause; - a large number of people moving or arriving somewhere at the same time คนกลุ่มใหญ่ที่กำลังมุ่งหน้าไปยัง
a new wave of politicians - a new group of politicians (who are different from the ones in the past)
politician -  นักการเมือง
garner - gain ได้รับ to collect or obtain a large amount of something, in this case, votes
garner support - gain the support of people (they will vote for her and possibly donate money to the election campaign)

Mr Yollada, 30, said he believed that he will be part of a new wave of politicians who will garner support from the transgender group because he had taken part in many social activities.

beauty pageant - beauty contest, a competition to find the most beautiful (also talented and skilled) young woman in an area (See Wikipedia)
beauty queen - the woman who wins the beauty pageant

campaign - when politicians go around trying to win votes from people before an election
term - word
propose - suggest (but not yet chosen or decided upon)
proposed a project

provide - to give someone something that they want or need
provide free sex-change operations
debate - a discussion or formal argument on an issue between people with different views (See Wikipedia)

The former transgender beauty queen had in the past campaigned for the Thai society to change the term from "homosexuals" to "transgenders" and proposed a project to provide free sex-change operations, which led to a wide debate in the country.

backing - support สนับสนุน
backing from people in the entertainment industry
constituency - the people in a local area who elect an MP to parliament
provincial election
fake - looks real but is not real; made to look like something real in order to trick people ที่ทำปลอม ปลอมแปลง
ID card  - บัตรประจำตัวประชาชน
fake ID card - an ID card that is not a person's real ID card (illegal)

Mr Yollada, who receives backing from people in the entertainment industry, is competing against two male candidates - Pawat Sattayawong and Suchart Jitbanjong - in constituency 1 in tambon Nai Wiang in Nan's Muang district. The elections will be held on May 27, 2012 in 24 constituencies in 15 districts. This is also the first time in Thailand that a trans gender is taking part in a provincial election. Mr Yollanda was once arrested for participating in a beauty pageant with a fake ID card.