Albert:Das Land 300 000 Ladyboys

While discussions about all forms of LGBTQIA+ have erupted in Western countries, the third gender has a long tradition in Thailand. The number of 'ladyboys', as transgender individuals are called in Thailand, is increasing year by year in the 'Land of Smiles'. Thai society has become more enlightened and open, not least due to the internet, and more and more young men feel encouraged to 'come out' if they believe they were born in the wrong body. Experts estimate that in a survey, up to 300,000 Thai men would identify as 'female'. Statistically, one in twenty Thais aged 20 to 30 is transgender. 'Land of the 300,000 Ladyboys' provides an informative look at this typically Thai phenomenon. Particularly noteworthy is the second part of the book, where the ladyboys themselves share their stories and describe their personal situations. Forty-two transgender individuals recount their experiences, openly expressing their thoughts and feelings, how they live, and often how they suffer. The author conducted the interviews in 2021/22 in Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket, with transgender individuals aged 15 to 35. The narratives are often dramatic and evoke a sense of empathy. Portrait photos of the interviewees, taken shortly before, accompany each page of the interviews, creating a 'close-up' visual connection for the reader to each individual ladyboy.