It might well be a public relations exercise but it's still a step in the right direction.
Thai media reported yesterday that a new Thai-based airline P.C. Air has hired three transsexual flight attendants – the company's initial quota – alongside 17 cisgender women and 10 men among its first batch of 30 new hires. Among the three is Miss Tiffany 2007 transsexual beauty pageant winner Thanyarat "Film" Jiraphatpakorn.
The 23-year-old was quoted as saying: "At first I thought they would just take applications but not actually recruit us, as happened at other places before."
The company had recently conducted a roadshow accepting applications from "third sex" candidates, who have to check the "unisex" column in the application form, at Bangkok's Esplanade shopping mall.
An airline spokesperson was quoted as saying that the company recognises the potential of transsexuals to work as hostesses and hopes to offer equal opportunities to them. He explained that after passing the preliminary round, the transsexual candidates will undergo training along with female air-hostesses and will have a 'third sex' name tag pinned to their uniform to avoid immigration issues.
Despite their high profile in Thailand, transsexuals are unable to change their legal status, and often report that they are still stereotyped and are often unable to find work outside the entertainment and beauty industry.
The airline plans to launch flights on March 1.
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Reader's Comments
So, if 'Film' and friends want to work for the airline in these roles, good for them, and I wish them well, just as I don't care if they wanted to flip burgers in McDonalds or become the local Minister for Fisheries.
As long as they're doing the job that They want to do, AND that nobody tries to stop them, based on Just their label, well, Good luck to them, I say...
and they start flying 1st March? Surely they're a month out?
First route Bangkok to Uranus maybe...
congratulation PC Air:)
more info in thai website...
http://women.sanook.com/สาวประเภทสองมีเฮ-พี.ซี.แอร์-สานฝันเปิดรับนางฟ้าเพศที่-3-931951.html
may all of your dreams come true..
keep dreaming...
everything is possible and limitless:)
PS: hope to see gay TV, gay hotel, and gay airline
in bkk soon:)
I'm so happy born to be thai people,Bcoz they it open and okay have gay ,Tomboy,lesbain in family....if you are good people.
Thaipeople is Kindheart ,Flexible,Friendly bra......
If you come to Thailand and learn culture ,people,tuch ,You will love THAILAND.I believe it.^^
Thanks.
Win.
many major and regional air carriers have transgender employees
they just don't go to the news media to promote the airline.
yes, it's a step in the right direction but please explaine to me
"a third sex" name tag pinned to there uniform... so as to avoid
problems with immigration " what is that all about . F/A's fly
with there passports and gender is marked m or f. i saw
thanyarant when she won "miss tiffany" and she is sure to
become a valued employee with p.c. air..
Many countries (including Thailand) do not legally recognise transsexuals/ transgender people. So, a male-to-female transsexual's passport may still state 'male'. Now if you were an immigration officer, would you not find it odd that a person who looks like a woman presents you with a passport that states she's 'male'? This of course would be a great opportunity for said individuals to be harassed/abused an 'unfriendly' immigration officer...
I know I am blessed with great DNA and don't need to even comb my hair to look good these days, but its crazy what people are doing and going through to look great
too much pressure to be perfect that's why I dont mind hanging out with my straight friends these days and drinking a few beers
on the other hand, my older brother is a plastic surgeon and his business is booming and he drives a nicer car than I do...
maybe its time for me to get a little lipo?
Truth be told, I wouldn't mind a gf like her...
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