Ladyboys or "kathoeys" are Thailand's third gender. Born biologically male, they realize early in life that they are female and start living their lives as women. As they enter adulthood many start the difficult, painful and expensive process of gender reassignment to become women (this has made Thailand the leading center of gender reassignment surgery in the world).

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Ladyboys or "kathoeys" are Thailand's third gender. Born biologically male, they realize early in life that they are female and start living their lives as women. As they enter adulthood many start the difficult, painful and expensive process of gender reassignment to become women (this has made Thailand the leading center of gender reassignment surgery in the world).

Ladyboys are widely accepted in Thai culture with little of the prejudice that transgendered people in the west encounter. Many schools and public buildings have three sets of public bathrooms - men, women and ladyboy.

The Mambo Cabaret is a Ladyboy revue in Bangkok. All of the performers are Ladyboys.
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