Neither fish nor fowl
University graduate refuses to skirt the gender issue

    Published: 29/08/2012 at 10:46 AM
    Newspaper section: Life

http://www.bangkokpost.com/lifestyle/family/309822/neither-fish-nor-fowl

The graduation season is rounding the last corner, and when the commencement ceremony takes place tomorrow at Thammasat University, all eyes will be fixed on Baramee Phanich. The Social Science graduate has made headlines and roused another round of debate on gender issues _ as well as the he/she dilemma for writers _ when Baramee, a male student, formally asked the university for permission to dress in female attire at the ceremony.

Baramee, better known by her nickname Denjan, has become a media sensation since the story broke and a top news show invited her on air. But the case around Baramee is more than just surface sensationalism: her bachelor's thesis is actually about cross-dressing and society's's attitude towards it, and her decision to use a medical certificate to back up her request sparked disagreement from some LGBT advocates. Baramee has also mentioned that she wants to be ordained as a monk, an announcement that stirred a range of reactions from all sections of society.

On the eve of her big day, we talk to Baramee, probably the most photographed graduate of the year.

[...]

Why did you choose to write a thesis on graduation attire for transgenders?

I wanted to write something that could really be used and not just something that would sit there on shelf collecting dust. My professors and advisor encouraged me to work on this topic. I'm lucky too that I've studied at Thammasat, which is the country's leading university for law and students' rights.