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Story Publication logo August 31, 2015

Thailand's Worst Kept Secret: A Glimpse into the Illegal Sex Industry

Country:

Thailand

Author:

Julia Boccagno
2015 Reporting Fellow

Pulitzer Student Fellow Julia Boccagno prepares to interview a transgender cabaret performer backstage at Tiffany's Show Pattaya. Image Courtesy of Julia Boccagno. Thailand, 2015.

English

Although Thailand may appear accepting of transgenders, it ostracizes “ladyboys” from mainstream...

Julia Boccagno
2015 Reporting Fellow

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Kosin “Laila” Sakun, a 34-year-old transgender sex worker in Patpong, works at a King’s Corner 2, a go-go bar in Nana Plaza, four days a week. She charges about 10,000 baht ($283) or more for customers who are seeking a full-night escort. A shorter session costs about 3,000 – 4,000 baht ($85 - $113). Image by Julia Boccagno. Thailand, 2015.

Half of the escorts who work at King’s Corner 2 are born-females while the other half are ladyboys. Kosin Sakun says customers—mostly from China and Japan—prefer escorts who appear to be female, but who haven’t undergone gender reassignment surgery. Image by Julia Boccagno. Thailand, 2015.

Aris “Alice” Sangkharom, 34, works in the sex industry in Pattaya, Thailand. She says her biggest fear is contracting HIV from a client. If a customer refuses to use protection, Sangkharom says she will not engage in sexual activities. Image by Julia Boccagno. Thailand, 2015.

Roots of Pattaya’s tourism can be traced back to the Vietnam War when Americans used the U-Tapao Airport as their base. The base also served as a popular recreational place for G.I.s who were on short-leaves during the war. Pattaya continues to serve as an international tourism hub. According to the Thailand Tourism Authority, 2.6 million Thai tourists and 6.5 million foreigners visited Pattaya in 2014. Image by Julia Boccagno. Thailand, 2015.

Pattaya has come to be synonymous with sex tourism, which has surfaced public health issues for transgender prostitutes. According to a survey conducted by Sisters, Center for Transgenders, there is a 7.5 percent HIV infection rate among trans sex workers in Pattaya. Image by Julia Boccagno. Thailand, 2015.

Bar girls attract customers by advertising happy hour deals along Walking Street—Pattaya’s red-light district. Upon entering a bar, customers are pressured to buy drinks for hostesses. 'Lady drinks' range in price, and a small portion of the money is given to the hostess. Image by Julia Boccagno. Thailand, 2015.

Nana Plaza, a three-floor complex, is one of Bangkok’s red-light districts, along with Soi Cowboy and Patpong. Image by Julia Boccagno. Thailand, 2015.

Managers of go-go bars keep a close eye on internal operations, ensuring a customer pays a “bar fine” before taking an escort out. Ranging from 600 – 1,000 baht ($17 - $28), the money usually goes exclusively to the bar—not the escort. Image by Julia Boccagno. Thailand, 2015.

Inside Obsession, bar girls flirt with onlookers from an elevated platform, hoping to attract customers. One worker says that she is expected to sell 60 'lady drinks' and be taken out ten times per month. If a worker fails to meet these expectations, the bar may replace her. Image by Julia Boccagno. Thailand, 2015.

Hundreds of neon signs along Pattaya's Walking Street invite tourists into bars and clubs. However, much different signs exist just off of Walking Street. They read: “No Durian, No Dog, No Lady Boy.” Durian is fruit known for its unpleasant odor. Image by Julia Boccagno. Thailand, 2015.

Although prostitution is illegal in Thailand, the country hosts approximately 250,000 sex workers, who add $6.4 billion to annual revenue.

"Thailand's Worst Kept Secret: A Glimpse into the Illegal Sex Industry" offers a glimpse behind the scenes at the country's thriving red-light districts.