- The Nation/ANN
BANGKOK: Students at Boonwattana School in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Hua Thale sub-district are waiting with bated breath for new changes.
The secondary school started a new trend earlier this month, before the start of the new term.
It announced that LGBTQ+ students could wear their hair according to the gender they identify with.
For instance, male students who identify as LGBTQ+ can wear their hair long and tied with a bow, while their female counterparts can sport short haircuts.
This inclusive policy has significantly boosted the confidence of LGBTQ+ students.
Boonwattana School now also has separate restrooms based on gender identity.
Alongside the male and female toilets, the school has made available equally modern, clean restrooms in vibrant colours for the third gender.
Chayanon, a 15-year-old student, said he was delighted that he no longer needs to use the general men’s room because they make him self-conscious.
Restrooms for women were also unsuitable because they lacked urinals, he said.
Therefore, having a restroom dedicated to LGBTQ+ students made him feel far more at ease.
“I’m a male who identifies as female. Using the general female or male restrooms makes me feel uncomfortable. Therefore, having a ‘rainbow’ restroom is a great initiative, as it allows everyone to use it based on their gender identity without feeling different,” another LGBTQ+ student said.
School principal Wichian Thongkli said Boonwattana was a large specialised high school covering grades 7 to 12.
It has more than 3,800 students, of whom about 2% identify as LGBTQ+.
He said these students have a lot of potential but are unable to fully utilise it because they do not have confidence in themselves.
“Therefore, this year, the school is focusing on the importance of gender diversity. If other schools adopt this idea, it would be a positive development. Schools should serve as safe zones, where everybody can feel comfortable and eager to attend classes. Once students feel accepted by their peers, they will enjoy learning more,” Wichian said. - The Nation/ANN
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