Court refutes classification of transvestites

The Administrative Court Tuesday revoked the Defence Ministry's conscription records that described transvestites as people with a "permanent mental disorder." It also urged the Defence Minister to amend ministerial regulations making statements that transvestites had "a sexuality that doesn't match the inborn gender" more accurate.

Transvestite Samart Meecharoen petitioned the court against the Defence Minister, Army Reserve Command, and Lop Buri registrar to revoke the conscription records, which described him as ''psychotic.'' Samart claimed the description was a violation of human integrity and prevented him from working in the civil service or private bodies.

The Administrative Court cited medical opinion that transvestites who had yet to undergo a sexchange operation but chose a breast enhance procedure were not ''psychotic.'' It also recognised the Defence Minister and Army Reserve Commands were trying to amend the ministerial regulation by adding a description of "having a sexuality that doesn't match the inborn gender" - which was now awaiting the Council of State's consideration before submission for Cabinet approval.

The Nation