Thailand: Trans woman becomes the first to win elections to public office

A trans woman has won a historic seat in local elections in Thailand, thereby becoming the first openly transgender person to hold public office in the country.

Yonlada Suanyos, a PhD candidate who also runs a satellite television station, in addition to running her own jewellery business, has defeated two other male candidates to become a councillor in the Nan province of northern Thailand.

Ms Suanyos was also a member of transgender pop group called Venus Flytrap, where she was known as Posh Venus.

The first trans person to enter politics in Thailand, the 30-year-old won her seat by winning 150 votes more than the incumbent, with a total of 3,808 votes, according to local media.

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/05/30/thailand-trans-woman-becomes-the-first-to-win-elections-to-public-office/

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