Because their faces may no longer match what's on their ID cards one group is concerned that the 'ladyboys' of Thailand might be marginalized in next week's general election.

Reuters reported on the issue yesterday, quoting Yollanda Suanyoc of the 2,500-member Trans-Female Association of Thailand as saying "We have a big problem when we use our identity cards in banks, schools, hospitals and now when we vote," and "The picture may show a woman but it says 'mister' on the card. Or the picture may show a teenage boy and the person now looks like a woman." According to Suanyoc, the government says changing their title and sex will be confusing for society and that "The government worries that they won't know about our past."

The national ID card is something everyone in Thailand must carry from age 15 and is renewed every seven years.

A story in today's Bangkok Post detailed a peaceful June 16 march organized by gay, lesbian and transgender activists in which several party representatives were invited "to share their thoughts and policies pertaining to gender diversity issues." One promised "that if his party won, he would push for a law to allow transgender people to have new ID cards with the female title." The Trans-Female Association of Thailand, Reuters says, "groups transgenders and transsexuals known collectively as "katoeys" or "ladyboys." A new airline plans on hiring only ladyboys as cabin crew.

Since TWA is out of business can we suggest calling it Trans World Airlines?