Thailand is a country that is actively expanding lgbtq+ rights including passing marriage equality this year. While it is still missing some of the important legal protections seen in other countries, I have found much more personal safety and community acceptance in my daily life compared to my previous home in the liberal bastion of Seattle, Washington in the United States (where assaults, discrimination, and hate crimes still happen). Here legal protections are being improved (while not needed in daily life) while in many other countries they are on the books but are being ignored.
There is broad support for pride month (it’s a month long celebration in the two major shopping complexes in the city complete with rainbow walkways). Thailand is a country where you can safely use the restroom you’re comfortable with in any major public area, business, or rest stop, and not get any comment, or hateful stare. It’s one of the worlds safest cities where my fem friends feel safe on the streets at 2:00 am, and violence against lgbtq+ people isn’t an issue. In fact Chiang Mai was rated as the safest city in Southeast Asia by Numbeo.
It’s easy to get into the country and the cost of living means that your resources go a long way. If you don’t have many resources there are ways to live that are very, very inexpensively and there are English teaching jobs available. HRT/Gender supporting medication and treatment is inexpensive and can be purchased from local pharmacies. Blockers and E are available without a prescription, and T requires a prescription (which is easy to get and doesn’t require a long wait time).
The country itself is gorgeous with beaches, jungles, and many sites to see and the food and the hospitality of the people is famous. I love being able to walk into a business or a bathroom and not needing to worry about what kind of reaction I’m going to get (as a very not passable woman). The country also doesn’t have the right wing extremism that is being bred and the EU and America.
As for physical accessibility, there are pros and cons. One of our friends with mobility issues says that while the condition and height of the sidewalks are not walker and wheelchair friendly, there are many mitigating factors. Ride services are easily available at all hours with little planning necessary and Thai people are generally kind, and helpful, going out of their way to assist you when needed. They also mentioned that affordable, conveniently located housing is readily available. In addition renting housing here usually requires nothing more than first and last months rent – no credit check, no references.
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