AEGiS-Bangkok Post: Safe sex play staged in jail Bangkok PostImportant note: Information in this article was accurate in 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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Safe sex play staged in jail

Bangkok Post - March 30, 2001
Anjira Assavanonda


In a bid to prevent the spread of HIV/Aids among prisoners, eight members of the Bangkok Gay Group staged a play for gay inmates yesterday on how to protect themselves from the virus. A group of gay activists poses for photographs in front of Klong Prem Central Prison yesterday. _ JETJARAS NA RANONG The show was performed at the Bangkok Remand Prison which houses around 7,000 male prisoners, including 100 gay and transvestite inmates.

Pakorn Pimpthon, who led the cast, said the play reflected the group's dream of stopping HIV transmission across the world.

The group also organises the annual Bangkok Gay Festival on Silom Road.

The drama conveyed the message anyone contracting HIV should not spread it to others. It also promoted safe sex through the use of condoms.

Mr Pakorn said one of his friends, an ex-inmate, told him many prisoners have sex together to ease stress.

More than 50 gay prisoners were allowed to watch the show.

"We just encouraged them to fight for their rights and prove they are not social burdens," Mr Pakorn said.

The group said they were proud to help educate and advise gays on how to prevent HIV transmission.

Cast member Tun Suphakul said he wanted the rights of gay people to be socially accepted.

Mr Tun said he had an elder brother who died of Aids, after serving a one-and-a-half-year jail term.

He said he did not understand why condoms are banned in prisons.

The group earlier proposed to distribute condoms to the convicts, but the idea was later rejected.

Mr Tun said: "The officials told us condoms are always banned since it would encourage some 'abnormal behaviour.' This reflects that homosexuality is unaccepted."The Bangkok Gay group also plans to perform the play at other venues, including Lumpini Park and juvenile detention centres.
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