Hermaphrodite blocked from Thai monkhood

PHUKET: A young man in Lampang province wants to ordain as a monk at his local temple, just like nearly all Thai Buddhist men do at some point during their lifetimes.

But Krittapak Duangchai, 30, has a problem: his local temple will not ordain him as he is a hermaphrodite.

The budding monk possesses a vagina as well as a penis and menstruates each month, and his local temple has forbidden him from ordaining and living with other clergymen.

Mr Krittapak said he had been both a man and a woman since he was born and this had caused him much confusion when growing up.

But after tests showed that he had more male hormones than female ones, he decided he wanted to go “all in” as a man – and have his vagina surgically removed.

Mr Krittapak’s mother said that since he was born, she had considered him a girl and called him “Miss”.

But these days, he considers himself a man and has a girlfriend, she said.

Some time ago, Mr Krittapak went to a hospital for an examination. They checked his blood, finding more male hormones in his body than female. They also noted that he had a mustache and other hair growth that was more common among males than females.

He therefore went to the local District Office and had his official gender noted on his national identification card changed from female to male.

Mr Krittapak’s mother said she felt very sorry for her son because he wanted to have his vagina removed but the family could not afford it.

She asked for donations to help her son get surgery. Those wishing to do so can contact the family by calling 085-5221793.

— Sanook News