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for gender equality. They arranged a workshop to develop a network of
“katoey” in Thailand This small meeting was the beginning of a greater

movement to crumble social prejudice towards “Katoey”. Participants
attending the workshop established “Thai Transgender Alliance (Thai
TGA)”, the first network to work with “Katoey” in Thailand.

The primary goal of “Thai Transgender Alliance (Thai TGA)” is
to improve the quality of life for transgender people. The network’s

objective is to collect data and create a knowledge base on issues
related to “Katoey” in Thailand and to engage in capacity building for
people working with “Katoey” groups in Thai society. It aims to raise

awareness and understanding in identity and rights of “Katoey” by
running participatory public campaigns alongside other civil society

networks.
In 2015, the network was registered as a foundation for stability
and sustainability purpose. The process took two years because the

word “Katoey” was interpreted as immoral and violating Thai traditions.
It took great effort and work on education and communication with
the authorities based on human rights perspectives. On 24 November

2016, the network eventually succeeded in registering the foundation
as “Foundation of Transgender Alliance for Human Rights (TGA)”
Nicha Chaiyapruek, one of the board members of the TGA,

the former first runner-up of Miss Tiffany Universe 2012, was the first
dark-skinned transgender who won a prize from this competition.

Nicha broke the beauty rule of “Katoey” which believed that fair skin
equals beautiful and beautiful “Katoey” had to look like women. Nicha
helped with the foundation’s work and participated in LGBT networks’

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