Transgendered Band

A girl band of transsexuals who model themselves on the Spice Girls are hoping to change social attitudes and achieve pop chart success in Thailand.

Venus Flytrap

Hot, Cool, Posh, Naughty and Sweet
hope to be an inspiration for young ladyboys
and anyone confused about their sexuality.

"I hope audiences do look at us for our work, rather than just for being pretty" -Posh Venus

I stumbled across a news story about this group yesterday. As I read about these women, the more I became interested knowing their full story.

Well a little Google here, a little Google there, quick search of YouTube, and POW! I had a pretty cool story to share… and a decent new pop song as a bonus.

Thailand is believed to have one of the largest transsexual populations in the world. Academics estimate at least 10,000 live in Thailand, though some put the figure 10 times higher.

Even the conservative number would mean that per capita, Thailand has many more transsexuals than most developed countries.

Executives at Sony seeing a prospective market niche and potential to attract a mainstream audience, launched a development project to create the next female pop group sensation.

Mirroring the creation of The Spice Girls or Pussycat Dolls but with an added twist… a female pop group with all transgendered members.

The company auditioned over 100 performers before selecting the five women who’d become the worlds first transgendered pop group signed to a mainstream record deal.

After signing on the doted line, the women spent the next twelve months undergoing intense singing, acting and dance lessons. In addition to sharping their skills as entertainers, a great deal of time was spent creating an image for the group. The group was being fast-tracked; their debut required style and polish equal to any seasoned mainstream pop group.

In the fall of 2006, the group began a public relation campaign in the months leading up to their debut album release. TV and radio interviews, public events, award show appearances, and a high-profile Marie Claire cover photo and feature article helped build the public’s anticipation.

Their first album, "Visa for Love," was released in December and Sony’s director for artists and repertoire Amonrat Homhoul says the company is pleased with the groups success.

"The response has been good, even if their songs aren’t in the charts yet."

The groups first single and music video has been in heavy rotation and continue to gain interest. A growing fan base has also earned the girls a lucrative concert deal, and recently they’ve enjoyed repeat play on Bangkok’s SkyTrain rail network.

For Sony this is a purely commercial venture by a company looking to exploit a niche market in Thailand.

However, for the group members, they have broader goals and see a more important impact they could have on society in Thailand.

In a Buddhist society which prides itself on tolerance, ladyboys, known as "katoey" in Thai, enjoy wide acceptance.

Many Thais believe being a ladyboy is the result of bad karma — paying in this lifetime for misdeeds in former ones — and that ladyboys deserve pity, not blame.

While many transgendered women in Western nations might see the acceptance given to their counter-parts in Thailand as a kind of nirvana, the reality is far from perfect.

Transgender people are often represented in the media and in public Thai life, but they can still draw negative attention.

Social mobility is severely restricted and employment opportunities are generally limited. More often than not their only option of work is dancing as exotic entertainers in cabaret revues.

Laws in Thailand are also heavily stacked against transgender people. They are not covered by rape laws, and are not allowed to marry.

The women want to sweep aside the common image of ladyboys as cabaret queens or tourist curiosities and join the mainstream of international pop. Being seen as roll models is something each take very seriously and are dedicated to promoting tolerance and inclusion of transsexuals in Thailand.

The band’s dream is that the music’s appeal will extend to beyond the cabaret clubs tucked away in seedy red-light districts.

"I hope we are paving the way for other ladyboys. I hope society will be more open for them so that they can work, because they are able to work," said Krerkkong Suanyot, or Posh Venus.

Krerkkong, who has degrees in food science and humanities and is studying for a masters in political science, said she hopes her experience with the band will help earn recognition for other transsexuals.

The group does have a nagging concern that their rising celebrity might be based more on who they are, rather than how they sing.

"I hope audiences do look at us for our work, rather than just for being pretty"