April 21, 2017 Issue

Bangkok—A transgender woman registers for military service on April 5. Thailand is widely accepting of transgender people, but draft season is usually an ordeal for many of them. Thai men are required to report for the draft at the age of 21. They can either volunteer for six months’ service or enter a lottery, which might mean two years’ service or none. Transgender women must register but are exempt if they have had surgical changes or can otherwise prove they have “gender identity disorder.”