The National Statistical Office, in collaboration with partners, is embarking on the country’s inaugural official survey focusing on the well-being of the LGBTQ+ community. Running from June to September, the survey is designed to enhance services tailored to this demographic group.
Kanjana Phumalee, the Director for Policy and Academic Statistics at NSO, highlighted the lack of statistical data pertaining to the LGBTQ+ community due to privacy concerns inhibiting information disclosure. This paucity of data hampers effective policy-making, she noted.
In a previous attempt in 2019, the NSO and the Institute for Population and Social Research of Mahidol University included a gender-related question in a broader survey on work conditions. The findings indicated that LGBTQ+ individuals comprised just 0.7% of households on a national scale, with 1.5% of respondents aged 15-20 identifying as LGBTQ+.
Emphasizing the necessity for increased societal understanding of gender diversity, Kanjana underscored the importance of the ongoing survey initiative, jointly undertaken by NSO, Mahidol University’s population research institute, and the Thailand Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth).
Poranee Puprasert, Assistant Manager at ThaiHealth, expressed the foundation’s commitment to advancing the well-being of all populations in Thailand, highlighting the scant and outdated data on gender diversity as a challenge. An improved understanding of LGBTQ+ individuals would enable tailored health promotion efforts, responsive services, and targeted issue resolution.
The current survey aims to gather comprehensive data on the physical and mental health, living conditions, relationships, stigmas, and discriminations experienced by the LGBTQ+ community. The insights gleaned will inform social, economic, and health policies to foster comprehension on LGBTQ+ concerns, encompassing health and financial disparities, as well as discrimination prevalence.
Assoc. Prof. Kritaya Archavanitkul, project advisor, noted the significance of this systematic assessment, marking the first of its kind in the country. The survey, set to span from June to September, will cover 2,400 households in Ratchaburi province, 1,100 individuals aged 15-25 across three different schools in Nakhon Pathom province, and involve an online survey targeting 1,500 respondents aged 15 and above.
Post-survey interviews will delve into the health knowledge, sexual identity, gender perspectives, preferences, and sexual orientations of LGBTQ+ individuals within the surveyed households. Assoc. Prof. Kritaya stressed the pivotal role of accurate LGBTQ+ data in fostering an inclusive society that mitigates inequality and advocates for equity.
