June 30, 2022 – Center for Gender Studies of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Khon Kaen University organized the ISAAN PRIDE 2022 event (LGBTQ+ Rights in Education). Assoc. Prof. Piansak Pakdee, Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relation presided over the opening session. Assoc. Prof. Orathai Pia-ura, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences delivered the welcoming address, and Asst. Prof. Rakchanok Chamnanmak, Ph.D., Acting Director of the Center for Gender Studies gave the reporting speech. Among attendants were the working team from organizations in KKU, members of private associations, social community section, the network of activists for LGBTQ. The event was held at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and the former Degree Conferral Pavilion, Khon Kaen University.
Assoc. Prof. Piansak Pakdee, Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relation related, “Every June is the “LGBT Pride Month” or the month of pride of the groups with multiple genders. There is a usual movement of people all over the world, who come out to wave their rainbow-color flag, showing their support for sex equality. LGBT Pride is the support given to LGBTQ people to receive equality in different matters, without discrimination or multiple standards. At the same time, the support is meant to develop pride among LGBTQs, for their self-respect. This social support has become part of the social movement. And at present we see the importance of awareness raising related to gender multiplicity. We have therefore joined to hold this Isaan Pride 2022 event today.”
Assoc. Prof. Orathai Pia-ura, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences said, “Isaan Pride 2022 is an event aiming at raising awareness of gender multiplicity and at having a stage for expressing and sharing of ideas of LGBTQs as well as anyone interested. The activities will exhibit matters about LGBTQ, celebrate this multiplicity of gender, and demonstrate that this place is the place to equally welcome everyone.”
Asst. Prof. Rakchanok Chamnanmak, Ph.D., Acting Director of the Center for Gender Studies then gave an explanation about the activities in the event, which were divided into 2 sessions. The morning sessions featured a forum for exchange of experiences of LGBTQ people, exchange of viewpoints between the University administrators and the students concerning the rights and freedom of LGBTQ students in KKU. The forum was under the topic: “Experience in Living together of LGBTQs on Campus”.
Belle Pattarada Phalao said in the forum, “As a representative of the students, I’d like everyone to be open to LGBTQ. There are more than just 2 genders. Human beings are all equal. Not being a man or a woman is not wrong.” Belle then empowered those who are facing discrimination, “Deciding to be what we want to be is the best thing we should do. I support everyone in this regard.”
In addition to this, there are more interesting forums, such as: “Various but equal: the different self and movement for sex equality.” There were other activities, for example, watching a movie and talking with Khun Thanwarin Sukhapisit, a film director and an alumnus of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. At the event, there were booths that exhibited different things about LGBTQ and also a Night Market.
Another colorful activity was a pride parade, which is a highlight of this event. Certain university administrators, including Assoc. Prof. Piansak Pakedee, Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relation; Prof. Thidarat Boonmars, Ph.D., Vice President for Innovation and Enterprise and administrators of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Assoc. Prof. Orathai Pia-ura, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; a network of the activists in LGBTQs joined. It was truly an occasion marking another page of history where a lot of students, lecturers and the public were interested and came to show their stance. All joined in waving the rainbow-color flag to support gender equality.
The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences sees the importance in the rights of LGBTQs. Assoc. Prof. Orathai Pia-ura, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences mentioned in her speech that she will run the faculty with support of love towards all people without any sex discrimination. The Faculty will respect the pride of all people and see the importance of the multiplicity of all groups of people as well as will be ready to build a prototype safe zone for everyone.
Source: Khon Kaen University