Resources and information about moving to Chiang Mai

What is Living in Thailand like?

I’ve never lived in a society where my transness is accepted like it is here. There is a culture of live and let live, and true open acceptance of people as themselves. All of my life this has been a dream ideal that I could talk about but being able to live is life changing. The wonderful part is that this culture of acceptance rubs off on most of the foreigners that come to live in Thailand. It’s not perfect I do occasionally get a grumpy stare from an American/Uk expat in their 60’s-70’s but I also get many more open smiles and compliments on my dresses from locals. The Thai language doesn’t use gendered pronouns but locals happily switch to what you want if they get it wrong. The Thai government will honor the marker that is on your passport if you were able to get it updated.

Trans Life FAQ

Can I use the bathroom that matches my gender?  Yes, there aren’t laws or any social norms preventing you from using the bathroom of your choice.  I’m not passable and I haven’t had any issues

Which gender will be used in documents?  The gender marker that is on your passport is what the Thai government will use (an x marker will be accepted).

Can my trans child be themselves?  As a foreigner most of the schooling options will be through private schools.  We have pre-identified schools where your child can be themselves by:

  • Wearing the clothes of their selected gender (or non-gender)
  • Using the name of their choice
  • Using the pronouns they have selected
  • Using the bathrooms of their choice
  • Using changing rooms of their choice
  • Not have to worry that the school allows bullying or hateful language

Trans people are a normal and integrated part of life in Thailand and, it’s not perfect. For me, my daily experience of safety and acceptance outweighs the fact that some countries have better legal protections. Legal protections mean you can sue if someone harms you, here,  no one is going to harm me simply for being trans. I am in no more danger than the cis person next to me, something unheard of elsewhere in the world.