Petz Patiyut and Khun Jaa: "A lot of my Western clients are amazed by how openminded Thai people."

One of the many questions often asked of Petz, a freelance Bangkokbased tour guide, concerns ladyboys in Thailand. A lot of his foreign clients are intrigued by what is deemed such a mysterious figure, and this inspired Petz to educate tourists about the issue.

He now works full-time as an AirBnb Experiences co-host. The guide currently hosts a number of activities, but Petz is proud of his Iron Lady Experience the most, which opens up a discussion about the transgender culture in Thailand.

The three-hour session educates guests on basic Thai transgender knowledge, from vocabulary and lingo to medical issues. Halfway through, Khun Jaa, a transgender (who refused to disclose her real name and be photographed for personal reasons) from a nearby cabaret arrives and regales the group on stories about her personal life and struggles.

Phuthip Wattanakeesuntorn/Time Out Bangkok

Khun Jaa, former programmer, grew up in a conservative Chinese family in an environment where one has to be (or at least appear) heterosexual to be successful. Now, working as a cabaret dancer, Khun Jaa finally feels liberated, often saying that she’s now become her true self. She met Petz a few years ago, and the two discussed the possibility of working on the the Iron Lady project together. “I was very confused about what he wanted to do. But it sounded interesting and I decided to give it a try,” Khun Jaa recalls.

"A lot of my Western clients are amazed by how openminded Thai people."

According to Petz, many of his clients are curious about how Thailand seems so accepting of transgenders. “A lot of my Western clients are amazed by how openminded Thai people are. Even though the same sex can get married in America, people are not as accepting as in Thailand. Some parents still throw their kids on the streets because they are gay,” Petz explains.

Petz and Khun Jaa are hopeful that their Iron Lady Experience would help eliminate misconceptions and prejudices surrounding transgender individuals, as well as spread their optimism about the LGBTQ situation in Thailand. Petz hopes to open a transgender museum in the future, but as of the moment he’s focused on changing lives, one experience at a time.

Phuthip Wattanakeesuntorn/Time Out Bangkok