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The fact of the matter is.......Nobody really knows what the exact figures are for HIV positive people of either sex in Thailand. All reports and statistics that one reads are conflicting. I can only speak personally for Chiangmai and Chiangrai which are reputed to be the AIDS capitols of Thailand. In Chiangrai the incidence HIV positive sex workers is extremely high, currently running around fifty percent, but bear in mind that the majority of these are Myanmar nationals working illegally in Thailand. These cases are limited to the local brothels, where young Burmese girls as young as fourteen are working. The gay scene in Mae Sai and Chaingrai is pretty well non existant, but there are ladyboys working in both cities.
Chiangmai is a different ball game, with a massive gay community from the four universities, Chaingmai, Phayap, Phayo, and Maejo. They are also home to thousands of ladyboys. The gay bar scene rivals that of Bangkok, and the ammount of gay clubs and saunas is incredible.
Most of the working ladyboys have a Thai boyfriend, although they will never admit it to you. "Bam" being a prime example. Her boy friend sleeps with both gays and ladies, and this is a continuing basis for ongoing arguements between them. She was sporting a bruise on the cheek last week as a result of a quick smack from the boyfriend. I asked her why she still stayed with him. "He good to me" was the reply.....I give up sometimes.
Most weeks I hear of a gay death from an HIV related complication, and quite a few I have known personally.
A good gauge is to visit the public HIV ward at the Suan Dork hospital, and do a head count. Absolutely frightening, or coversely visit the Vieng Ping orphanage at Mae Rim, which has a 35/40% HIV count.
What I'm trying to covey is the fact that, no matter what you read in statistics.....THEY ARE ALL WRONG!! Unless you are mixing with these people every day, you just never get to hear of the real mortality rate. Scary Huh?
Chiangmai is a different ball game, with a massive gay community from the four universities, Chaingmai, Phayap, Phayo, and Maejo. They are also home to thousands of ladyboys. The gay bar scene rivals that of Bangkok, and the ammount of gay clubs and saunas is incredible.
Most of the working ladyboys have a Thai boyfriend, although they will never admit it to you. "Bam" being a prime example. Her boy friend sleeps with both gays and ladies, and this is a continuing basis for ongoing arguements between them. She was sporting a bruise on the cheek last week as a result of a quick smack from the boyfriend. I asked her why she still stayed with him. "He good to me" was the reply.....I give up sometimes.
Most weeks I hear of a gay death from an HIV related complication, and quite a few I have known personally.
A good gauge is to visit the public HIV ward at the Suan Dork hospital, and do a head count. Absolutely frightening, or coversely visit the Vieng Ping orphanage at Mae Rim, which has a 35/40% HIV count.
What I'm trying to covey is the fact that, no matter what you read in statistics.....THEY ARE ALL WRONG!! Unless you are mixing with these people every day, you just never get to hear of the real mortality rate. Scary Huh?
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