Gays take on Novotel in club row

[Snick]

There is already a topic on this subject/articl

[jadeite]

sorry m8! Somehow that one slipped under the radar.

[rxpharm]

Update to this story from the Nation, June 30/07

Novotel gets a week's notice

Novotel gets a week's notice

Transvestite Sutthirat Simsiriwong yesterday gave Novotel Siam Square a week to formally apologise and admit its mistake in denying him entry to its nightclub because of his sexual orientation.

"I will wait until next Wednesday; if there is no statement of apology from the hotel, I will take legal action," he said at a press conference at the Office of the National Human Rights Commission.

Sutthirat, accompanied by advocates of gay and lesbian rights, filed an official report of last Friday's incident to the commissioners.

He said the controversy between him and the hotel would be over if the hotel issued its statement in time.

Besides admitting its mistake and apologising, Sutthirat also wants the hotel's statement to say that the sort of "archaic" social perspective displayed by its actions would not longer be its policy.

"I'm highly confident that a world-class corporation, such as Novotel (Accor), will eventually accept responsibility for their actions and policies; policies that have affected me personally, affected others who suffer discrimination of any type and affected those whose hearts have been touched by our struggle," he said in a statement in English that he distributed to the media.

The hotel is facing an international boycott from more than 100 gay and lesbian organisations. Rights commissioner Naiyana Supapheung supported Sutthirat's request and said she would soon summon the hotel's representatives to ask about the case.

Sutthirat's fight to protect his rights as a transvestite has served as a wake-up call for gays and their advocates.

Natee Theerarojnapong, president of the Gay Political Group of Thailand, told the commissioners yesterday that his rights had been violated by life insurance companies that refused to sell him life insurance for his "soul mate", and demanded that the commission investigate such policies.

And a photo of the lb who has raised this case:

[Guest]

It is courageous of her to stand up to this crap, and for that, most of us applaud her.

I plan to contact her and she if she'll help on a few other places, like QBar. I'll fund her legal bills, with pleasure.

[stogie bear]

She's already won a huge victory and I'll bet that the hotel acquieses to her demands. Good luck to her. In the current political and social climate she may well have a case.

I still don't believe that a private business should be browbeaten by the law to be forced to do business with people they don't want to. I still think that the public should vote with their cash.

But it looks like dinasaurs like me are fast becoming extinct!

You WILL be forced to cater to anyone and everyone even if they are only there to annoy the regulars and get on TV!

[rxpharm]

Follow up to the story from the Nation July 5/07

The Nation - Novotel to Apologize


Novotel will apologise to transvestite
After a week-long boycott campaign by gay networks, Novotel Siam Square will today formally apologise to Sutthirat Simsiri-wong, a transvestite who was barred entry to a nightclub at the hotel two weeks ago.


A spokesman for the high-end hotel's public relations division said a press conference would take place today at the hotel. The general manager of the hotel and a representative of Accor Group, which represents hotel chains including Novotel, will be present.

Sutthirat said he was also invited to the press conference.

"Tomorrow everything will be concluded," he said in a telephone interview.

The apology by the hotel arrived in time for a deadline set by Sutthirat, who said last Thursday that if the hotel did not apologise to him within a week, he would bring the case to court as he had been discriminated against because of his sexual orientation.

Sutthirat, a local brand manager for a French cosmetics firm, was denied entry to the Concept CM2 nightclub at the hotel on June 22. The reason given by door staff was because he is a katoey. The Thai word refers to transvestites.

More than 100 organisations worldwide that advocate the rights of gays, lesbians and transvestites launched a campaign to boycott the hotel.

Bangkok Rainbow Organisa-tion launched a boycott campaign called "Novotel No Homo-sexual" through its website.

In the travel section of UK Gay News - an online media centre for gays and lesbians - tags that read "gay friendly" had been removed from a list of Accor hotels and replaced with "This hotel is part of the Accor group and there is currently an international ban on the company following a problem in Bangkok."

A statement posted on the UK Gay News website said the tag "gay friendly" would not be reinstalled unless the problem in Bangkok is resolved.

Nikorn Arthit, president of Bangkok Rainbow Organisa-tion, said the campaign would end once the hotel admitted its mistake.


Will have to see if their policy changes now.

[Socrates999]

This is exactly how things should work. Company takes action, people complain, company decides what will be in its own economic best interest and acts accordingly.

The part that sucks is when the/any government gets involved and starts telling businesses what they can and cannot do. Let the markets decide. Same as the Imus case- nappy headed hos or not, the advertisers balked and the station said goodbye Imus- no need for government involvement.

The other part that sucks is they threatened to take it to the courts, forgetting that when the mouth of the courts tell you what you must do, they start telling you what you cannot do out of the other side.

[Torurot]

Money talks. The Gay market though small, is affluent, well travelled, and well connected via internet etc..

[Road Runner]

And think of all the free advertising the Novotel is getting out of this.

As they say there is no such thing as bad publicity

RR.

[Guest]

I disagree and believe governments should be involved in prevention of discrimination.

Why should it take a celebrity to bring action and world-wide attention just to enter this bloody bar? Think of how many discriminatory acts happen to non-celebrities, or people not well connected enought to bring world-wide attention, like me and May being two, who still cannot go to QBar.

It should be a simple law and order action rather than requiring world-wide attention.

[Guest]

novotel in siam sq.its funny.3 years ago i barfine one lb kc3 and i went there to meet a friend of mine.they let me in. also i saw a couble of lb from obsessions there.maybe now they change there policy because now the disco it became the most expencive whorehouse in bkk,full with hookers and russian girls with prices
from 3.500 and up.if they let ladyboys in who are 10 times more beautifull than ggs then the business on the boosing side will go down(most of the lbs dont dring
alcohol.)i am sure the reason of not letting now lbs in the disco has to do with the
business at the disco(moneywise).AND I SUPPOSE THEY HAVE every right to refuse
entrance if they dont like u provited they have a sign by the door.

[rxpharm]

Although this is an old story now, I found a video on it. The lb involved is interviewed. Would encourage you to have a look at this:


Unfortunately it seems the video embed does not show fully on the forum, so here is the link as well:
Thai Transgender Power

[jimslim]

Very interesting Rxpharm , thanks for posting it

[Dravina]

agree entirely. big thanks to RXPharm. fascinating video.

not relevant to the topic but the standard of English spoken by some of the people on the video is amazingly high.

[katoeylover]

Obviously a very educated lady, fascinating video.

Glad to see the new constitution allows fair rights for Gay and Transgender people.