Transitioning Safely through Knowledge and Medical Care: ‘Kook Thitikarn,’ a Trans Man from Southern Thailand, Calls for Healthcare Rights on the Road to WorldPride
- Kook Thitikarn Chaturaphit, Naruemit Ambassador 2026
● Kook shares more than a decade of experience proving himself as a trans man, emphasizing that the journey begins with accepting, respecting, and loving one’s own identity.
● He stresses that transition requires reliable knowledge, physical assessment, and close care from qualified medical professionals, alongside comprehensive information about possible side effects and social adjustment.
● As a voice from Hat Yai, he uses social media to create safer spaces for people in Southern Thailand to express their identities and supports local Pride events that advance acceptance, the economy, and tourism.
● He advocates for access to transgender healthcare and calls on the government and public health coverage systems to support the costs of hormone replacement therapy and necessary treatment.
● He believes Thailand’s medical professionals and internationally recognized standards of care can welcome people from around the world to WorldPride and showcase the country’s capabilities internationally.
Kook Thitikarn Chaturaphit, Naruemit Ambassador 2026, a trans man, shares a transition journey shaped by more than a decade of having to prove himself. Ten years ago, society had limited understanding of what it meant to be a “trans man.” Most people were familiar only with terms such as kathoey, transgender woman, or tomboy—even when Kook already had facial hair. Moving beyond this lack of understanding required more than explanation. The most important starting point was learning to accept, respect, and love his identity, while acknowledging that he was assigned female at birth and committing to medically supported physical changes so that he could live proudly as a man.
From a healthcare perspective, transition should take place under the close supervision of qualified medical professionals. The process begins with blood tests to assess physical readiness, followed by an appropriate dose of testosterone comparable to typical male hormone levels, alongside disciplined exercise to develop one’s physique. Kook is concerned that some younger people may view transition as a trend or follow influencers without sufficient knowledge. He therefore calls on the Ministry of Public Health and medical professionals to provide comprehensive information—including possible mood changes associated with shifting hormone levels and the social adjustments involved in using public spaces and men’s restrooms.
As a representative voice from Hat Yai, Kook uses his personal social media platforms to create a safe space for people in Southern Thailand, encouraging them to express their identities without being confined to a gender binary. He emphasizes that Hat Yai is not only a center of business and cultural diversity; it is also ready to embrace diversity through local Pride events that can stimulate the regional economy and tourism while reflecting Thailand’s broader openness and freedom of thought.
Another key policy priority is access to transgender healthcare. Transition-related care—including lifelong hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgery—can involve substantial costs. Kook therefore proposes that the government and public health coverage systems, including social security, help cover hormone replacement therapy and necessary treatment so that everyone can access safe medical care without relying on unregulated medication. He also encourages those considering transition to begin by seeking reliable information and planning their long-term finances and health step by step, so that an impulsive decision does not become a future health problem.
Finally, Thailand stands out for the readiness of its medical professionals and internationally recognized standards of care. Kook is ready to add his voice to inviting people from around the world and neighboring countries to attend WorldPride—helping stimulate the economy while showcasing the strength of Thailand’s healthcare system on the international stage.
Kook Thitikarn Chaturaphit, Naruemit Ambassador 2026 is a trans man who draws on more than a decade of lived experience to advocate for safe, informed transition, access to transgender healthcare, and inclusive spaces in Southern Thailand—while championing Thailand’s medical strengths on the road to WorldPride.