Homophobic attacks by any groups must be condemned

Homophobia has been used as a political tool by key elements in both camps on different occasions, casting doubt on how democratic and pluralistic some of these people truly are.

The Rak Chiang Mai 51 group verbally attacked Gay Pride organisers on Saturday, forcing them to dismantle their stage in a public area. The Nation quoted red-shirt group leader Petchawat Wattanapongsiri, claiming to speak on behalf of Chiang Mai residents, saying: "Chiang Mai people cannot accept this and will stop the parade by all means, even [with] violence."

The incident underlined not just homophobia but also fear of difference, of people who have different identities or beliefs.

It's fairly well-known that on various websites, some red-shirt members have been attacking one very senior retired general whom they accuse of being behind the September 2006 coup, derogatorily referring to him as "an old gay" or "old eunuch".

Ironically, their political opponent,the PAD, is little different when it comes to using homophobia as a political tool.

Just days before the threat of violence against the gay parade, ASTV-Manager daily newspapers, the mouthpiece of the PAD, ran a political cartoon depicting various leaders of the red-shirt Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD) dressed as gays.

Only one man stood in the middle, Chulalongkorn University political scientist Ji Ungparkorn ,who earlier fled the country to escape a lese majeste charge and left behind a pro-republican and pro-socialist manifesto. The cartoon depicted others, including Thaksin, Weng Tojirakarn, Somchai Wongsawat, Nattawut Saigua and more, as gay - as people who do not accept their supposedly real republican political ideology.

It's also well known that the same papers have time and again referred to DAAD leader Jakrapob Penkair in a derogatory way as gay, and made fun of it.

Homophobia, and this fear of diverse identity and of people who do not conform to the notion of what is good and acceptable, are detrimental to ensuring a pluralistic and democratic society. The red-shirt pro-Thaksin DAAD should note that the PAD's claim in opposing Thaksin by all means is based on their belief that Thaksin is "bad" and "unacceptable" too.

If homosexuals in Thailand are to be verbally abused as people who cannot accept the truth of their gender orientation, then the blame must be on the society at large which continues to discriminate, distrust or even hate them and has forced some to remain in the closet.

Gay and non-gay people who stand by the right of people with different gender identity should roundly condemn these people in both red and yellow camps. ASTV-Manager Daily ought to be ashamed as it claims, as a media outlet, to be a beacon of light for Thai society. DAAD leaders should issue an unreserved apology and vow to respect the gender rights of others. The National Human Rights Commission shouldn't keep silent about such blatant violations by both parties.

The two groups may claim to be fighting for democracy, but their actions, when it comes to treatment of gender issue, is dictatorial and constitutes a clear threat to a plural and democratic society. They must be made aware that they're making a farce of themselves because no society which discriminates and shuts out the voices of those with a different opinion and identity, gay or otherwise, can never call itself a genuine democracy.