Chulalongkorn University has issued a new regulation allowing transgender students to wear uniforms that align with their gender identity.
The announcement said: “Students may wear uniforms that align with their biological sex or gender.”
The Nov 6 decision was a culmination of years of effort spearheaded by a student known as Ince Jirapat, a transgender at the faculty of education, and others. Jirapat said on her Facebook post that transgender alumni of Chulalongkorn University and human rights activists had helped her along the way.
The faculty earlier dismissed Jirapat’s petition for transgender students to be allowed to wear female uniforms in class. In January, Jirapat and other transgender students submitted a complaint, insisting the ban violated their rights.
On Feb 18 Jirapat was granted permission to dress according to her gender, but not the other students.
And then on Nov 7 the university issued a statement granting permission for all transgender students to do the same.
However, another debate remains. Some activists argue that making uniforms mandatory is also a violation of student rights, and want all schools and universities to end the requirement.