The Impact of Boys' Love Television Series as a Way of Shaping Thailand's LGBT Rights Acceptance
Addine Fithrianne Hidayat(1*)
(1) Gadjah Mada University
(*) Corresponding Author
Abstract
The journey of Thailand's cinematic queer existence can be traced back to the 1960s with a portrayal of a same-sex couple's tragic story. However, the re-emergence of Thailand's cinematic queer in the form of the Boys Live series in 2020 has succeeded in enticing audiences' attention and soon created the narrative of the exact sex couple series portrayal to be the icon of Thailand's entertainment industry. The increased demand for Boys Love series production later shifted into giving a proper platform for the LGBT community to represent themselves in the media. The expansion in exposure led to reshaping the discourse in society and creating a way for familiarising the community with the public, all while providing the chance to address the topic matters, including long-standing discrimination.
Keywords: LGBT; human rights; discourse school; media representation; gender equality
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Books
Farmer, B. (2000). Spectacular passions: Cinema, fantasy, and gay male spectatorships. NC: Duke University Press.
Farmer, B. (2011). Loves of Siam: Contemporary Thai Cinema and Vernacular Queerness. In Jackson, P. A. (Ed.), Queer Bangkok: 20th Century Markets, Media, and Rights. (PP. 59–80). Hong Kong: University of Hong Kong Press.
Herek, G.M. Chopp, R. & Strohl, D. (2007). Sexual stigma: Putting sexual minority health issues in contract. In Meyer, I. & Northridge, M. (Eds.), The health of sexual minorities public health perspective on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender populations. Boston: Springer US.
Jackson, P. (2011). Queer Bangkok after the Millennium: Beyond Twentieth-Century Paradigms. In Jackson, P. (Ed.) Queer Bangkok: 20st Century Markets, Media, and Rights. (PP. 1–14). Hong Kong: University of Hong Kong Press.
McLelland, M. & Welke, J. (2015). An Introduction to “Boys Love” in Japan. In McLelland, M. et al. (Eds.) Boys Love Manga and Beyond: History, Culture, and Community in Japan. (PP: 3-22). Jackson: University of Mississippi Press.
Sanders, D. (2011). The Rainbow Lobby. In Jackson, P. A. (Ed.) Queer Bangkok after the Millennium: Beyond Twentieth-Century Paradigms. (PP. 240–250). Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.
Ünaldi, S. (2011). Back in the Spotlight: The Cinematic Regime of Representation of Kathoeys and Gay Men in Thailand. In Jackson, P. A. (Ed.), Queer Bangkok: 20st Century Markets, Media, and Rights. (PP. 59–80). Hong Kong: University of Hong Kong Press.
Walker, J. (Ed) (2022). Queer Transfigurations: Boys Love Media in Asia. USA, Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press.
Wolf, S. (2009). Sexuality and Socialism: History, Politics, and Theory of LGBT Liberation. Chicago: Haymarket Books.
Report
Burapha University & UNDP. (2017). A Tool for Change: Working with the Media on issues Relating to Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Expression and Sex Characteristics in Thailand. Chonburi: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Burapha University.
UNDP & USAID. (2014). Being LGBT in Asia: Thailand Country Report. Bangkok: UNDP
ASEAN SOGIES Caucus (2017). The Rainbow in Context: An Overview of the Situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, and Queer (LGBTIQ) Persons in Southeast Asia. Philippines: ASEAN SOGIES Caucus.
Journal Article (retrieved online, without DOI or page numbers)
Baudinette, T. (2019). Lovesick: The Series: adapting Japanese 'Boys Love' to Thailand and the creation of a new genre of queer media. South East Asia Research, 27(2), 115-132.
Berry, G. L. (2000). Multicultural Media Portrayals and the Changing Demographic Landscape: The Psychosocial Impact of Television Representations on the Adolscent of Color. Journal of Adolescent Health, 27(2), 57–60.
Clark, C. (1969). Television and social controls: Some observation of the portrayal of ethnic minorities. Television Quarterly, 9(2), 18–22.
Dembour, M. (2010). What Are Human Rights? Four Schools of Thought. Human Rights Quarterly, 32(1), 1–20.
Gray, M. (2009). Negotiating Identities/Queering Desires: Coming Out Online and the Remediation of the Coming-Out Story. Journal of Computer/Mediated Communication, 14, 1162-1189.
Jackson, P. (2000). An Explosion of Thai Identities: Global Queering and Re-imagining Queer Theory. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 2(4), 405-424.
Lambert, S.D. & Loiselle, C. (2008). Combining Individual Interviews and Focus Groups to Enhance Data Richness. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 62(2), 228-237.
Morris, R. (1994). Three sexes and four sexualities: redressing the discourses on gender and sexuality in contemporary Thailand. Positions, 2, 15-43.
Ocha, W. (2013). Rethinking Gender: Negotiating Future Queer Rights in Thailand. Gender, Technology and Development, 17(1), 79-104.
Phoovatis, W. (2019). Effects of Languages Usage in News Reports of Sexuality in Thai Media: Gender Identity Conflict. Kasem Bundit Jounal, 1-87.
Zaza, S. Kann, L. & Barrios, L. (2016). Lesbian, gay, and bisexual adolescents: Population estimate and prevalence of health behaviors. JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, 316(22). 2355-2356.
Electronic source
Boonlert, T. (2020). Gender recognition bill set to be tabled. Retrieved from: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1963599/gender-recognition-bill-set-to-be-tabled
English, P. (2020). Thai Cabinet Approves Civil Partnership Bill. Retrieved from: https://th.boell.org/en/2020/07/13/thai-cabinet-approves-civil-partnership-bill
International Labour Organization. (2014). Gender identity and sexual orientation in Thailand. Retrieved from: https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---asia/---ro-bangkok/---sro-bangkok/documents/publication/wcms_356950.pdf
Kimie, I. (2020). The Evolution of Boys Love Culture: Can BL Spark Social Change?. Retrieved from: https://www.nippon.com/en/in-depth/d00607/
Koaysomboon, T. (2020). Everything you need to know about Thailand’s thriving Boys Love culture. Retrieved from: https://www.timeout.com/bangkok/lgbtq/thai-boys-love-culture
Likhitpreechakul, P. (2009). Without equality, tolerance for gays is just a myth. Retrieved from: https://outrightinternational.org/content/thailand-without-equality-tolerance-just-myth
Liljas, P. (2014). Thailand's Intolerance of its Own LGBT Community Will Surprise You. Retrieved from: http://time.com/12603/thailands-intolerance-of-its-own-lgbt-community-will-surprise-you/
Mahidol University. Plan International Thailand. & UNESCO Bangkok Office. (2014). Bullying targeting secondary school students who are or are perceived to be transgender or same-sex attracted: Types, prevalence, impact, motivation and preventive measures in 5 provinces of Thailand. Retrieved from: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002275/227518e.pdf
Mitchell, A. (2020). The Complex Phenomenon of Boys Love Dramas. Retrieved from: https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/5dzyqd/the-complex-phenomenon-of-boy-love-dramas
Nishrat, N. (2021). LGBT community vows to push harder in 2021. Retrieved from: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2068191/lgbt-community-vows-to-push-harder-in-2021
Pawa, A. (2021). Bangkok Pride: Meet LGBTQ+ who lead the way for equality in Thailand. Retrieved from: https://coconuts.co/bangkok/features/bangkok-pride-meet-lgbtq-who-lead-the-way-for-equality-in-thailand/
Phoonphongphiphat, A. (2020). Thailand's Historic LGBT Bill Exposes Rifts Inside Community. Retrieved from: https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Society/Thailand-s-historic-LGBT-bill-exposes-rifts-inside-community
Prachatai. (2019). Chiang Mai celebrates its first LGBT Pride in a decade. Retrieved from: https://prachatai.com/english/node/7941
Promchertchoo, P. (2020). Thailand’s Civil Partnership Bill sparks further debate on same-sex couple rights. Retrieved from: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/thailand-civil-partnership-lgbtiq-gender-equality-discrimination-710036
The Jakarta Post. (2017). Bangkok to hold first gay pride parade in 11 years. Retrieved from: https://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2017/01/20/bangkok-to-hold-first-gay-pride-parade-in-11-years.html
UCA. (2020). Thai LGBT activists demand equal rights. Retrieved from: https://www.ucanews.com/news/thai-lgbt-activists-demand-equal-rights/88983#
Wang, R. (2020). Boyus Love Hits Push the Dial for Progress Across Asia. Retrieved from: https://international.thenewslens.com/article/145836
Watson, J. & Jirik, K. (2018). Boys’ Love: The Unstoppable Rise of Same-Sex Soapies in Thailand. Retrieved from: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-16/boys-love-same-sex-dramas-in-thailand/9874766
Watson, J. & Jirik, K. (2018). Boys’ Love: The Unstoppable Rise of Same-Sex Soapies in Thailand. Retrieved from: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-16/boys-love-same-sex-dramas-in-thailand/9874766
Yukari, F. (2020). The Evolution of Boys Love Culture: Can BL Spark Social Change?. Retrieved from: https://www.nippon.com/en/in-depth/d00607/
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22146/globalsouth.89451
Article Metrics
Abstract views : 158 | views : 77Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.