Life gives out awards in recognition of the best worst and everything in between for all things LGBTI-related in 2021.
MOST ANTICIPATED (BUT STILL NOT HERE)
Have we been nice enough this year? It's three days until Christmas and the one thing the Thai LGBTI community has been wishing for is still nowhere in sight. Once again, and expectedly so, the prospect of marriage equality is looking grim. A dream still out of reach. Wishful thinking that has been trampled on over and over. The Thai Constitutional Court has decided that the existing marriage law that is reserved for heterosexual couples only is not against the constitution. As if the answer "no" alone is not enough, the full verdict on this ruling was later released online and its content was shocking (see Jurassic Men below). Over 270,000 people have now signed the recent online campaign to support the amendment of the marriage law at support1448.org.
Marvel’s first gay superhero in Eternals is Phastos, played by Brian Tyree Henry. (Photo © imdb.com)
The number may seem like a lot, but it remains to be seen if this sentiment will be able to turn the tide set by the court. Well, if only the campaign can get the same level of enthusiasm from the public at large like when corporations splashed rainbows on their products during Pride Month. True allies are determined in times of need, and we haven't really seen that many people making a move.
PEOPLE OF THE YEAR
Who else could it be but our Thai LGBTI activists? "Activist" is used here as an umbrella term for anyone from youth protesters to veteran gender advocates who have been fighting relentlessly for the country's move towards a more equal society. This is not an honour for any specific person or organisation. Rather, it is a recognition of a collective pursuit that has persevered through yet another challenging year. From office rooms to parliament and the streets, activists have put themselves out there to call for the justice and equal rights people deserve. What do they get in return? Twenty activists involved in the Nov 28 protest to call for marriage equality at Ratchaprasong intersection were summoned for questioning by the authorities. The police claimed the protest was against government Covid-19 restrictions. Well, it's nothing new they're using the pandemic as an excuse to suppress free speech and right to peaceful protest, and what a cheap shot it was.
CINEMATIC WIN
Marvel Cinematic Universe's Eternals is hardly the best movie out there. But, in terms of impact and reach, it's hard to top its surprising inclusion of a gay superhero. It can be considered a triumph to see a gay superhero like Phastos (played by Brian Tyree Henry), his husband and son in one of the top grossing films of 2021. Oh, and did we mention a kiss? It's definitely satisfying to see Disney/Marvel not tiptoeing around this portrayal of an LGBTI family. The studio also chose not to edit out any scenes despite trouble in screening the film in conservative countries. We hope to see them continuing to take this stand in future projects.
Ncuti Gatwa and Connor Swindells in Sex Education Season 3. (Photo © Netflix)
SMALL SCREEN STEALER
This year, we've been blessed with quite a great selection of all things queer on television. But the one that's risen to the top is none other than Sex Education, which is continuing its winning streak in portraying the lives of horny teens in the series' third season. Non-binary representation. Combating toxic masculinity. Nigerian underground gay scene. Sex Ed 3 manages to be both funny and heartfelt as the students revolt against an oppressive regime under a new head teacher. The heterosexual relationship on the show may be getting stale, but queerness undeniably saves the day.
Also, we can't not talk about the drag ball culture phenomenon Pose, which brought down the curtain after three seasons. Created by Ryan Murphy and co, the show tells the story of African-American and Latino LGBTI communities of New York in the 80s and 90s to critical acclaim. Pose is a show like no other and we will miss seeing all of the characters on our screen.
UNDESIRABLE NO.1
Being a TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) isn't cool. You can ask J.K. Rowling that, or perhaps the cast members of her own Harry Potter creation. The year 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of one of the biggest movie franchises in history. For this occasion, the cast and crew from eight movies will reunite in the Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return To Hogwarts special event to be shown on HBO GO on Jan 1. However, the real surprise is that Rowling won't be featured in it. This TV special is also not the only one trying to distance itself from the author and her anti-trans stance. Last week, the US Quidditch and Major League Quidditch -- of a real-life sport inspired by the magical one in the books and films -- announced they are planning to change the name of the trademarked sport for growth potential and to dissociate itself from Rowling. Their statement says the sport is among the world's most progressive on gender equality and inclusivity, and aims to live up to this reputation.
SUPER PERFORMER
Pole dancing straight into hell and giving the devil a lap dance, who else could deserve the Super Performer title but Lil Nas X? The artist is on fire this year, most notably with the release of Montero (Call Me By Your Name) music video in March, which excited social media and riled up conservative Christians. The video now has over 400 million views on YouTube. In September, the LGBTI suicide prevention organisation The Trevor Project honoured Lil Nas X with its inaugural Suicide Prevention Advocate of the Year Award. His achievements are building up and he shows no sign of slowing down.
US rapper Lil Nas X at the Audacy Beach Festival in Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida, on Dec 5. (Photo: AFP)
A notable mention is also Gottmik, a contestant on RuPaul's Drag Race Season 13 who became the first openly transgender man to ever compete on the show. From delivering great looks to bringing the much-needed transman representation on screen, Gottmik has killed it week after week before finishing among the runners-up.
JURASSIC MEN
Say hello to the judges of the Constitutional Court. Anyone who has read the recently-released full verdict on the decision over same-sex marriage by the Constitutional Court may agree on one thing. Those papers are nothing but outdated, homophobic views made by expiring cisgender heterosexual men who unfortunately have the power to decide the fate and future of so many LGBTI people.
The infuriating verdict basically says people are breeding livestock whose duty is to procreate. What else? It says LGBTI couples aren't able to form the same kind of bond that normal and natural families have. Worse, it also says LGBTI people will get married to benefit from state welfare and tax deductions normally reserved for heterosexual couples. Kudos to anyone who can read through those 12 pages of documents without feeling the urge to strangle someone. The country sure has a long way to go before narrow-minded people like them go extinct.
Pose. (Photo © imdb.com)
