Transvestite classification refuted
The Administrative Court yesterday 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 tr
Transvestite Samart Meecharoen had petitioned the court against the Defence Minister, the Army Reserve Command, and the Lop Buri Regis-trar 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 sex-change operation but had chosen a breast-enhancement procedure were not "psychotic".
It also recognised that the defence minister and the Army Reserve Command were trying to amend the ministerial regulation by adding a description of "having a sexuality that does not match the inborn gender" - which was now awaiting the Council of State's consideration before submission for Cabinet approval.
The conscription committee had described transvestites as having a "permanent mental disorder", which the court deemed inaccurate, shaming the plaintiff before society, lessening his human integrity and possibly leading to damage.
Network for Sexual Diversity representative Jessada Taesombat thanked the court for bringing down such a verdict, which he said would help the military lift its conscription standards in future.
