Thailand's Teen Castration Ban Splits Doctors, Gay Campaigners

[Shana A]

Thailand's Teen Castration Ban Splits Doctors, Gay Campaigners

By Shanthy Nambiar and Suttinee Yuvejwattana

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=a2wYAQhtYUX0&refer=asia

Aug. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Paiboon Marvin started wearing dresses and makeup before he became a teenager. Now 16, he wants to be castrated as the next step toward becoming a woman.

Until recently, that wouldn't have been a problem: Boys of any age in Thailand could have their testicles removed for as little as 5,000 Baht ($150) with no questions asked. Now Paiboon may have to wait two years because the procedure will be outlawed for those under 18, after pressure from gay rights activists who say youngsters may follow a trend and regret it later.

[Mnemosyne]

Love this line:

``The hysteria about sex is something special to the West,'' he says.

[Ell]

"That man's nuts! Grab 'em!"