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“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”
“Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”
These are the first article and second article of UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and just like it said “gender” is one of the important part of human rights protection. Of course, “gender” is a choice that everyone is bound to be faced with and it is pasted on kinds of social activities for human beings from the beginning to the end. At present, besides male and female, there is a “third gender” in gender identity.
“人人生而自由，在尊严和权利上一律平等。他们赋有理性和良心，并应以兄弟关系的精神相对待。”
“人人有资格享受本宣言所载的一切权利和自由，不分种族、肤色、性别、语言、宗教、政治或其他见解、国籍或社会出身、财产、出生或其他身份等任何区别。”
以上是联合国《世界人权宣言》的第一条和第二条，正如其中所言“性别”是人权保护中很重要的一项。当然，“性别”是每个人从出生就必然会面临的一个选择，性别的标签也会自始至终贴在与个人相关的各种社会活动中。当前，除了男性、女性外，性别认定上还有“第三性别”的概念。
According to the report in January by Reuters, Sittisamarn, spokesman of Thai Constitution Drafting Committee said that, the new constitution plans to bring into “the third gender” to protect legitimate rights of gay and transgender people, eliminate discrimination and make sure they can be treated more equally in law. If the proposal passes through in August, it would be the first time that Thai constitution recognizes “the third gender”.
援引英国路透社1月份报道，泰国宪法起草委员会发言人希提萨曼透露，新宪法拟纳入“第三性”的用词，保障同性恋与变性者的法律权利，希望能减少歧视，确保使其在法律上受到更加公正的对待。如果此提案顺利于8月通过，将是泰国宪法史上首度承认“第三性别”。
The existence of
“the third gender”
“第三性别”的存在
According to the news, in recent years, with the improvement of social openness, more and more people change their attitudes towards “the third gender”. But as a minority group – “the third gender”, their happiness and sadness will bring legal and ethical problems and because of the deep-rooted social values, the discrimination towards them has not been eliminated.
如新闻所述，近年来，随着社会开放度的提升，越来越多的人对“第三性别”给予了态度上的转变。但是，作为一个少数群体——“第三性别”，他们的喜与悲，以及由此引发的法律问题和道德问题仍然存在，并且由于社会价值观的根深蒂固，对“第三性别”的歧视也并未消除。
There are reasons for
their existence
“第三性别”形成有因
In real life, “gender” that relates to appearance and body type also refers to proof of certificates, like employers would label: age, education background and gender on their recruitment introduction; certificates that relate to individuals like birth certificate, ID and residence permit label gender too. It seems that gender is not a vague option that if not “male”, then “female”. Is that so? The notion of “the third gender” originates from the popularization of feminism in 1980s, which refers in particular to another gender besides male and female. It can be gay, transgender and transvestite.
现实生活中，与呈现出的面貌、体形对应的相关“性别”，还会涉及到很多个所有人证件证明，如在招聘说明上用人单位会标注：年龄所在的范围、学历、性别选项等；在与个人有关的证明如出生证、身份证、居住证、护照等证件中也都会标注性别。似乎性别是一个不应模糊的选项，非“男性”即“女性”，情况是如此的吗？
提及“第三性别”的概念，源自于上世纪80年代由女性主义开始提出和宣传，特指除男性、女性两大性别之外的另一种性别。“第三性别”可指任何一个生理性别的同性恋者、变性者、易装癖者等。
The media said that, the data of the British citizenship transgender group shows the number of transgender is 4% of the global population and continues to rise. The researchers of it explained the reason for “the third gender”. They think that some of them have male and female chromosomes and sexual characteristics at birth; some have none of them or lack the core characters of gender, and some have gender identity disorder that have no psychological identification for the gender at birth and think as another gender or none of them.
For “the third gender” in different countries, it has countless ties with the local history and culture as well as natural and geographical conditions.
据媒体报道，英国国籍跨性别组织数据显示，跨性别者的数量目前已经达到占据全球人口4%左右的水平，“第三性别”群体的数量还在不断增加。上述报道中的性别研究人员也对“第三性别”的成因给予了解释，他们认为“第三性别”人群有的在出生时就兼具男女性染色体或男女性征，有的则两者均无或缺乏判定性别的核心性征；而有的是有性别认同障碍，难以对自己的出生性别作出相应的心理认同，认为自己为另一性别或者两者皆非。
而对于不同国家存在的“第三性别”，又和当地的历史文化和自然地理条件有着千丝万缕的联系。
It is known that, the transgender is normal in Thailand. Though there is no formal statistics, the unofficial conservative estimate in 2013 showed that there are at least 10000 transgender people in Bangkok and thousands of transgender surgeries happen every year. Many reports said the appearance of transgender people there is because they live in poor families and do it for livelihood and there are special schools to train them since childhood. Many transgender people are trained at very early age in clothes, behavior and hobby and they should take drugs that contain female hormone.
Compared with that, “the third gender” in India has deeper reasons. According to the statistics, there are about 3 million transgender people in India. In ancient India, they were spirit medium consecrated in temples which is holy. If people marry, have child birth, move house or celebrate festivals, they would ask for blessing from them. But now, they are suffering the fate of being excluded to the fringe of the society. It is said that, many of them are emasculated as sacrifice to the god and the public at a young age. 众所周知，泰国跨性别人士较为普遍，虽然泰国官方并没有具体的数据统计，但2013年据非官方保守估计，仅曼谷就有至少1万名变性者，每年的变性手术更多达上千起。提及当地的变性者，多数报道称该人群的出现由于家庭贫穷，为生计所迫，加之有专门学校从小对此进行培养。很多变性者从年幼时即从着装、行为方式、爱好等开始被培养，还会吃含有雌性激素的药物。
与之相比，印度的“第三性别”则有着更深层的原因。据统计,印度目前变性者总数大约为300万。古印度时期，第三性别是被作为灵媒供奉在寺庙中，是神圣的，若遇结婚、生子、搬家、节庆等喜事会聘请第三性对其祝福。但在现代印度，第三性别却遭受着被排斥在社会边缘的命运。据了解，他们大多是在年轻时被阉割，理由是为了奉献给神明及大众。
The current living situation
of “the third gender”
“第三性别”生存现状
Take “the third gender” in Thailand as an example. The polite name for transgender people is “Miss bigender” and the normal name is “transgender”. In Thai it is “GRATEAI” and in English it is “lady boy”. “Shemale” comes from the interpretation of Hong Kong and Taiwan. As people know better about this, it changes from derogatory term to neutral words.
No matter what kind of name it gets, it shows that “the third gender” receive high paid attention to in Thailand and they can be seen in kinds of tourist popularization and movies. Someone even said “transgender” is the feature of Thailand and an important pillar for entertainment that tourism also benefits from it.”
But staff in local transgender organization said in interview that, “since transgender people are common in Thailand, outsiders all think that they are broadly accepted in the country. In fact, transgender people are troubled because of their identity in professional level and job market that it is hard for them to be employed even if they get outstanding ability.” It is said that the Thai law has never recognize the marriage between same gender that they cannot get bank loan and medical insurance as well as the change of gender in national identification.
以泰国“第三性别”为例。从现有称谓来看，泰国本土对变性者的礼貌称呼为“双性人小姐”，通常称呼为“变性人”，泰语翻译为“GRATEAI”，英文翻译为“lady boy”,“人妖”的称呼则源自港台翻译，随着人们对此认知水平的上升，“人妖”也从字面的贬义词向中性词转换。
无论是何种称谓，可见“第三性别”在泰国受到的关注程度相对较高，在泰国的各种旅游宣传上也多能见到，另外很多电影噱头也多有对此描述。甚至有人坦承,“‘变性者’是泰国的特色，是娱乐业的重要支撑，旅游业也部分受益于此。”
不过，泰国当地变性者组织相关人士接受媒体采访时却表示,“由于变性者在泰国十分常见，因此外界都认为变性者在泰国国内广被接纳。事实上，变性者在专业层面以及职场上，仍然会受到变性者身份的困扰，即便能力出众者也很难求得职位。”据悉，泰国的法律一直以来也不承认同性间结合，这导致同性伴侣无法获得银行贷款和医疗保险，也无法在国家身份证明上改变性别。
Prempreeda Ayutthaya, transgender rights activist in Thailand and officer of Asia-Pacific project of UNESCO said in an interview that, “in countries of Asia-Pacific region, though it is open for transgender people in Thailand, they still face problems like gender change in identification.
Yolanda, president of Thai Transgender Women Association, has deep feelings for this too. Though she has certain status now, her own experience is not an easy one. For this group, maybe it is hard to just find a job for living. The story of 28-year-old Nyuma is the proof. According to CRI online, Nyuma is a transgender and she studied so hard to get two degrees of international relation and ecological engineering in two universities which won her understanding and recognition of her family. But going outside of home means more tests and they are far beyond her imagination. “Even in Thailand that has relatively popular transgender culture, there are still common discrimination and bias towards transgender people. In colleges, even those who turn to females in appearance by surgery, still have to wear boy school uniforms. What’s more, government departments including public servants and big companies never consider recruiting transgender people.”
泰国跨性别者权益活动家，联合国教科文组织(UNESCO)亚太地区项目官员Prempreeda Ayutthaya接受媒体采访时对此证实,“在亚太地区国家中，虽然泰国对变性人已算开放，但是仍然面临身份证件性别修改等方面的问题。”
另外，泰国变性女性协会会长——优兰达对此也深有感触，虽然她现今在泰国社会中有了一定的身份和地位，但提及自己的经历也并不轻松，因为对这个群体而言，或许只是单纯地找一份可立足的工作都是困难的。
28岁的尼乌玛的案例即为实证，据国际在线报道，身为变性者的尼乌玛选择努力学习，同时在两所大学拿下国际关系和生态工程两个学位，得到了家人的理解和认可，但走出家门还要经受更多的考验，而这考验远远超乎她的想象。“即使是在变性者文化相对普及的泰国，对于变性者的歧视和偏见仍然随处可见。在大学里，即使是已经通过手术外形上完全变为女性的变性者仍然需要按照学校规则身着男生校服。此外，包括公务员等在内的一些政府单位和大型企业公司则完全不考虑变性者。”
For the majority of transgender people in Thailand, behind the group awkwardness, it is the survival predicament for individuals. The media said that, “the transgender group who cannot get normal jobs is trying to find sense of acceptance and social respect for the whole life. The sex industry with a low threshold is becoming the most convenient choice for them to get sense of identification.” What’s more, many of them go on the road of prostitution and drug trafficking. Some unscrupulous travel agencies do pornography in the name of "transgender" performance, which leads to vicious circle that they are equal to sex worker and dancing girl.
At the same time, for the majority of transgender people, they need to do surgeries in order to keep beautiful look, gender identity and the promotion of living conditions. But due to the limited economic ability, they have to choose some irregular small clinics which brings them pains that beyond repair. Many people hold the negative thoughts that they could not find real love nor have a family. So they use the beauty at young to make money for the provision when old.
As a part of the group, both Yolanda and Nyuma don’t want they have such miserable reputation and live an abnormal life. But compared with social discrimination and pressure, their power is extremely small. 对泰国的大多数变性者而言，群体尴尬的背后是个体的生存困境。有媒体对此评论,“无法进入到正常工作岗位的变性者群体，终其一生都在寻求认同感和社会尊重，从业门槛极低的性行业，无疑成为变性者群体收获认同感的最便捷的选择。”此外，许多变性者还走上了卖淫贩毒的道路，一些无良旅游机构也趁机打着“变性者”表演的旗号进行着色情表演，继而又恶性循环使得这一群体在外的名声等同于性工作者及舞女。
与此同时，在大多数变性者心中，为了留住美貌，以求得性别认同以及生活条件的提升，常常需要去做一些手术。但由于经济能力有限，她们可能会选择一些不正规的小诊所，也由此导致了身体上无法修复的伤痛。很多人持着悲观的想法，认为自己不可能找到真正的爱情，也无法组建自己的家庭，利用年轻时的美貌来换取金钱，以期能够养老。作为其中的一员，包括优兰达和尼乌玛在内都不愿群体背负如此悲惨的名声和无法过正常人的生活，但与社会的歧视和压力相较，她们的能力显得非常渺小。
There is a long way to understand and accept
“the third gender”
“第三性别”被正视、理解、
接受之路任重道远
Like said above, for “the third gender”, the awkwardness of living conditions makes them facing kinds of problems every day. But just like Nyuma, more people don’t care the name of the group, but the acceptance and understanding of the society. “It is a treatable mental disease for Asia countries thinking us strange, not a disease” said Nyuma to the media.
“People always are with novelty psychology.” Prempreeda Ayutthaya said, and she also stressed the helpless situation for them. So the addition of “the third gender” in the new constitution though won symbolic welcome, the pessimistic mood also exists.
Citing the report of CRI online Sally Tara, person in charge of “Equality and Action Federation” stressed at an outgiving that, “the constitution made at the junta's state is not democratic and lasting. The pass of the draft cannot have long-term change.” She said, Thailand hasn’t formed the social awareness of respecting law and building democratic system. The issue of law cannot represent the correct enforcement of it. If the law enforcers have no idea of gender equality, it would not work.” “So I think the change should be started from root,” she expressed her concern.
对“第三性别”而言，生存现状的尴尬使得该群体每天都会面临各种各样的问题。不过，与尼乌玛一样，更多的人并不在乎加在这个群体上的是怎样的称谓，而更在乎社会的接受程度以及给予的正视和理解。“无论亚洲哪个国家都觉得我们是奇怪的，是一种可治疗的心理疾病，但这不是一种病。”尼乌玛对媒体坦言。
“人们一般都是带着猎奇的心理。”Prempreeda Ayutthaya对此指出，她也强调该群体所处的无奈境遇。对于此次泰国新宪法拟加入“第三性”的用词，虽得到了象征性的欢迎，但持悲观情绪的人也同样存在。
援引国际在线的报道，非政府组织“平等和行动联合会”负责人莎塔拉在公开声明中强调,“现有的军政府状态下制定的宪法本身就是不民主和不持久的，通过这种方式，即使通过这一草案也不会产生长期性的改变。”她指出，泰国还没有树立起这种尊重法律建立民主制度的社会意识，法律的出台不代表执行法律的人能够正确执法，如果他们没有性别同等的视野，这样是没用的。“所以我觉得应该从根基上来改变问题”，她表示了自己的担忧。
Pillai, senior officer of UN human rights said in an early open report that, “when making the law, it should consider the needs of special groups and protect their human rights.” For the most cogent need for “the third gender”, maybe it is the equal treatment when keeping them from the discrimination in employment, medical care, education and law. Some experts said, “it can be started from the arrangement of suitable restroom or dressing room for them that can help them get into the society without strange looking. All of these are necessary things for government stressing human rights and equality.”
When Germany at first passed similar rules, media widely proposed that, the current Marriage Law only admits the combination of men and women and Partner Law admits same-sex relationships. But “the third gender” is outside of the both. It needs governments to discuss and study for defining the notion of marriage and partner in the future. So on the topic of “the third gender”, there is still a long way to go.
联合国人权事务高级专员皮莱则在早前的公开报道中表示,“制定本国法律时应多考虑这些特殊群体的需要，使这些群体的人权得到保护。”对于“第三性别”最切实的群体需要，或许更多的是使其在就业、医疗、教育、法律等方面免遭歧视的同时，能够被公平对待。
“先从为‘第三性’群体安排合适的洗手间或者更衣间，使其能融进社会不再接受社会异样的眼光开始，这些都应是政府和社会强调人权平等的应有之义。”有专家如是表示。
当然，还有像德国政府最初在通过类似的规定时，媒体广泛提出德国目前的《婚姻法》只承认男女异性结合，《伴侣法》则承认同性关系。但是“第三性”游离于这之外，未来如何界定婚姻和伴侣概念还需要政府继续深入研究和讨论。由此可知，在“第三性别”的话题上，未来的路依然任重而道远。
Links: “the third gender” in different countries
链接:“第三性别”在各国
In fact, Thailand is not the only country in the world which admits “the third gender”.
It is said that, Australia is the first country which legally admits “the third gender”. According to it, when applying individual files, people can choose the third gender. In September, 2011, Australia government announced that, citizens with Australian passport can add the third gender besides “male” and “female” marked as “X”. According to this regulation, if citizens want to apply for gender change in passports, they only need to offer a medical certification.
What’s more, New Zealand issued this kind of policy in 2012. According to the local media, the new government allows people to identify their gender as male, female or the third gender – “X” (uncertain/undeclared), and they don’t need to change the gender records on birth certificate and citizen file. So New Zealand is regarded as a country with foresight in “the third gender”. In fact, as early as in 2008, a report of human rights committee once proposed that, everyone has the right to change the gender on passport and other materials.
实际上，泰国并不是世界上唯一承认“第三性别”的国家。
据悉，澳大利亚是世界上第一个承认“第三性别”法律的国家。外媒报道称，按照澳大利亚的法律规定，在申请所有人文件时个人可以选择第三类性别。时间追溯到2011年9月，澳大利亚政府即对外宣布，持有澳大利亚护照的公民在性别一栏标注中，除“男”、“女”外，可以增加第三种性别选项，标记为“X”。根据该规定，如果本国公民想申请护照性别更改，只需提供一份医生证明，即能在“男”、“女”、“第三性别”选项中进行更改。
此外，新西兰在2012年也实施了相应的政策。据当地媒体报道，新政表示允许人们标识他们的性别为男性、女性或是第三性——“X”（即未确定/未声明），并且不需要他们同时更改出生证明和公民文件上的性别记录。由此，新西兰也被认为是在“第三性别”上具有前瞻性眼光的国家。其实，早在2008年，该国的一份人权委员会出具的报告曾提议表示，任何人都有权对自己的护照以及其他资料上记录的性别做出更改。 From November, 2013, the birth certificate in Germany adds “blank” option besides “male” and “female”. Der Spiegel said that, this revision allows parents to choose the gender of their babies and those kids with bisexual characters to choose to be male or female in the future. And individuals can choose to keep the “blank” option.
At the same time, the supreme judicial court of India admitted “the third gender” in April, 2014, which means it allows the neutral or uncertain gender besides male and female. It was regarded as “a landmark rule” by the Time Magazine.
而德国人的出生证从2013年的11月开始，除了标准的“男性”、“女性”选项外，还增加了“空白”选项。德国《明镜周刊》表示，该修改法案允许家长选择确定自己宝宝的性别，允许那些出生时具有两性特征的孩子选择在以后的生活中成为男性还是女性。据此，个人也可以选择保留两性之外的“空白”选项。
与此同时，与以上国家同步的还有，印度最高法院也在2014年4月，裁定承认“第三性别”，即允许有男女之外的中性或者不确定性别。该举措被美国《时代》周刊看作“具有里程碑意义的裁定。”
In Nepal, officials of domestic affairs said in 2013 that the government would issue “the third gender” ID to those who don’t want to be defined as male or female and related orders also delivered to all local governments. This action was welcomed by related groups that it will make the life become easier for the minority of gender groups.
It is said that, in April, 2012, the supreme judicial court of Pakistan allowed “the third gender” group to get related ID; in the cabinet council of Bangladesh in November, 2013, its Premier Sheikh Hasina announced the approval of a proposal by social benefits department to admit “the third gender”.
在尼泊尔，2013年该国内政部官员表示政府将向那些不愿意被界定为男性或女性的人签发“第三性别”身份证，相关命令还下发到各地区政府。该举动得到了相关群体的欢迎，称将会使得少数性别人群的生活变得容易。
有消息称，2012年4月，巴基斯坦高级法院裁定允许“第三性别”人群获取相应身份证件；2013年11月孟加拉国内阁会议中，该国总理谢赫·哈西娜宣布批准社会福利部的一项提案，认可“第三种性别”。
“Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”
These are the first article and second article of UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and just like it said “gender” is one of the important part of human rights protection. Of course, “gender” is a choice that everyone is bound to be faced with and it is pasted on kinds of social activities for human beings from the beginning to the end. At present, besides male and female, there is a “third gender” in gender identity.
“人人生而自由，在尊严和权利上一律平等。他们赋有理性和良心，并应以兄弟关系的精神相对待。”
“人人有资格享受本宣言所载的一切权利和自由，不分种族、肤色、性别、语言、宗教、政治或其他见解、国籍或社会出身、财产、出生或其他身份等任何区别。”
以上是联合国《世界人权宣言》的第一条和第二条，正如其中所言“性别”是人权保护中很重要的一项。当然，“性别”是每个人从出生就必然会面临的一个选择，性别的标签也会自始至终贴在与个人相关的各种社会活动中。当前，除了男性、女性外，性别认定上还有“第三性别”的概念。
According to the report in January by Reuters, Sittisamarn, spokesman of Thai Constitution Drafting Committee said that, the new constitution plans to bring into “the third gender” to protect legitimate rights of gay and transgender people, eliminate discrimination and make sure they can be treated more equally in law. If the proposal passes through in August, it would be the first time that Thai constitution recognizes “the third gender”.
援引英国路透社1月份报道，泰国宪法起草委员会发言人希提萨曼透露，新宪法拟纳入“第三性”的用词，保障同性恋与变性者的法律权利，希望能减少歧视，确保使其在法律上受到更加公正的对待。如果此提案顺利于8月通过，将是泰国宪法史上首度承认“第三性别”。
The existence of
“the third gender”
“第三性别”的存在
According to the news, in recent years, with the improvement of social openness, more and more people change their attitudes towards “the third gender”. But as a minority group – “the third gender”, their happiness and sadness will bring legal and ethical problems and because of the deep-rooted social values, the discrimination towards them has not been eliminated.
如新闻所述，近年来，随着社会开放度的提升，越来越多的人对“第三性别”给予了态度上的转变。但是，作为一个少数群体——“第三性别”，他们的喜与悲，以及由此引发的法律问题和道德问题仍然存在，并且由于社会价值观的根深蒂固，对“第三性别”的歧视也并未消除。
There are reasons for
their existence
“第三性别”形成有因
In real life, “gender” that relates to appearance and body type also refers to proof of certificates, like employers would label: age, education background and gender on their recruitment introduction; certificates that relate to individuals like birth certificate, ID and residence permit label gender too. It seems that gender is not a vague option that if not “male”, then “female”. Is that so? The notion of “the third gender” originates from the popularization of feminism in 1980s, which refers in particular to another gender besides male and female. It can be gay, transgender and transvestite.
现实生活中，与呈现出的面貌、体形对应的相关“性别”，还会涉及到很多个所有人证件证明，如在招聘说明上用人单位会标注：年龄所在的范围、学历、性别选项等；在与个人有关的证明如出生证、身份证、居住证、护照等证件中也都会标注性别。似乎性别是一个不应模糊的选项，非“男性”即“女性”，情况是如此的吗？
提及“第三性别”的概念，源自于上世纪80年代由女性主义开始提出和宣传，特指除男性、女性两大性别之外的另一种性别。“第三性别”可指任何一个生理性别的同性恋者、变性者、易装癖者等。
The media said that, the data of the British citizenship transgender group shows the number of transgender is 4% of the global population and continues to rise. The researchers of it explained the reason for “the third gender”. They think that some of them have male and female chromosomes and sexual characteristics at birth; some have none of them or lack the core characters of gender, and some have gender identity disorder that have no psychological identification for the gender at birth and think as another gender or none of them.
For “the third gender” in different countries, it has countless ties with the local history and culture as well as natural and geographical conditions.
据媒体报道，英国国籍跨性别组织数据显示，跨性别者的数量目前已经达到占据全球人口4%左右的水平，“第三性别”群体的数量还在不断增加。上述报道中的性别研究人员也对“第三性别”的成因给予了解释，他们认为“第三性别”人群有的在出生时就兼具男女性染色体或男女性征，有的则两者均无或缺乏判定性别的核心性征；而有的是有性别认同障碍，难以对自己的出生性别作出相应的心理认同，认为自己为另一性别或者两者皆非。
而对于不同国家存在的“第三性别”，又和当地的历史文化和自然地理条件有着千丝万缕的联系。
It is known that, the transgender is normal in Thailand. Though there is no formal statistics, the unofficial conservative estimate in 2013 showed that there are at least 10000 transgender people in Bangkok and thousands of transgender surgeries happen every year. Many reports said the appearance of transgender people there is because they live in poor families and do it for livelihood and there are special schools to train them since childhood. Many transgender people are trained at very early age in clothes, behavior and hobby and they should take drugs that contain female hormone.
Compared with that, “the third gender” in India has deeper reasons. According to the statistics, there are about 3 million transgender people in India. In ancient India, they were spirit medium consecrated in temples which is holy. If people marry, have child birth, move house or celebrate festivals, they would ask for blessing from them. But now, they are suffering the fate of being excluded to the fringe of the society. It is said that, many of them are emasculated as sacrifice to the god and the public at a young age. 众所周知，泰国跨性别人士较为普遍，虽然泰国官方并没有具体的数据统计，但2013年据非官方保守估计，仅曼谷就有至少1万名变性者，每年的变性手术更多达上千起。提及当地的变性者，多数报道称该人群的出现由于家庭贫穷，为生计所迫，加之有专门学校从小对此进行培养。很多变性者从年幼时即从着装、行为方式、爱好等开始被培养，还会吃含有雌性激素的药物。
与之相比，印度的“第三性别”则有着更深层的原因。据统计,印度目前变性者总数大约为300万。古印度时期，第三性别是被作为灵媒供奉在寺庙中，是神圣的，若遇结婚、生子、搬家、节庆等喜事会聘请第三性对其祝福。但在现代印度，第三性别却遭受着被排斥在社会边缘的命运。据了解，他们大多是在年轻时被阉割，理由是为了奉献给神明及大众。
The current living situation
of “the third gender”
“第三性别”生存现状
Take “the third gender” in Thailand as an example. The polite name for transgender people is “Miss bigender” and the normal name is “transgender”. In Thai it is “GRATEAI” and in English it is “lady boy”. “Shemale” comes from the interpretation of Hong Kong and Taiwan. As people know better about this, it changes from derogatory term to neutral words.
No matter what kind of name it gets, it shows that “the third gender” receive high paid attention to in Thailand and they can be seen in kinds of tourist popularization and movies. Someone even said “transgender” is the feature of Thailand and an important pillar for entertainment that tourism also benefits from it.”
But staff in local transgender organization said in interview that, “since transgender people are common in Thailand, outsiders all think that they are broadly accepted in the country. In fact, transgender people are troubled because of their identity in professional level and job market that it is hard for them to be employed even if they get outstanding ability.” It is said that the Thai law has never recognize the marriage between same gender that they cannot get bank loan and medical insurance as well as the change of gender in national identification.
以泰国“第三性别”为例。从现有称谓来看，泰国本土对变性者的礼貌称呼为“双性人小姐”，通常称呼为“变性人”，泰语翻译为“GRATEAI”，英文翻译为“lady boy”,“人妖”的称呼则源自港台翻译，随着人们对此认知水平的上升，“人妖”也从字面的贬义词向中性词转换。
无论是何种称谓，可见“第三性别”在泰国受到的关注程度相对较高，在泰国的各种旅游宣传上也多能见到，另外很多电影噱头也多有对此描述。甚至有人坦承,“‘变性者’是泰国的特色，是娱乐业的重要支撑，旅游业也部分受益于此。”
不过，泰国当地变性者组织相关人士接受媒体采访时却表示,“由于变性者在泰国十分常见，因此外界都认为变性者在泰国国内广被接纳。事实上，变性者在专业层面以及职场上，仍然会受到变性者身份的困扰，即便能力出众者也很难求得职位。”据悉，泰国的法律一直以来也不承认同性间结合，这导致同性伴侣无法获得银行贷款和医疗保险，也无法在国家身份证明上改变性别。
Prempreeda Ayutthaya, transgender rights activist in Thailand and officer of Asia-Pacific project of UNESCO said in an interview that, “in countries of Asia-Pacific region, though it is open for transgender people in Thailand, they still face problems like gender change in identification.
Yolanda, president of Thai Transgender Women Association, has deep feelings for this too. Though she has certain status now, her own experience is not an easy one. For this group, maybe it is hard to just find a job for living. The story of 28-year-old Nyuma is the proof. According to CRI online, Nyuma is a transgender and she studied so hard to get two degrees of international relation and ecological engineering in two universities which won her understanding and recognition of her family. But going outside of home means more tests and they are far beyond her imagination. “Even in Thailand that has relatively popular transgender culture, there are still common discrimination and bias towards transgender people. In colleges, even those who turn to females in appearance by surgery, still have to wear boy school uniforms. What’s more, government departments including public servants and big companies never consider recruiting transgender people.”
泰国跨性别者权益活动家，联合国教科文组织(UNESCO)亚太地区项目官员Prempreeda Ayutthaya接受媒体采访时对此证实,“在亚太地区国家中，虽然泰国对变性人已算开放，但是仍然面临身份证件性别修改等方面的问题。”
另外，泰国变性女性协会会长——优兰达对此也深有感触，虽然她现今在泰国社会中有了一定的身份和地位，但提及自己的经历也并不轻松，因为对这个群体而言，或许只是单纯地找一份可立足的工作都是困难的。
28岁的尼乌玛的案例即为实证，据国际在线报道，身为变性者的尼乌玛选择努力学习，同时在两所大学拿下国际关系和生态工程两个学位，得到了家人的理解和认可，但走出家门还要经受更多的考验，而这考验远远超乎她的想象。“即使是在变性者文化相对普及的泰国，对于变性者的歧视和偏见仍然随处可见。在大学里，即使是已经通过手术外形上完全变为女性的变性者仍然需要按照学校规则身着男生校服。此外，包括公务员等在内的一些政府单位和大型企业公司则完全不考虑变性者。”
For the majority of transgender people in Thailand, behind the group awkwardness, it is the survival predicament for individuals. The media said that, “the transgender group who cannot get normal jobs is trying to find sense of acceptance and social respect for the whole life. The sex industry with a low threshold is becoming the most convenient choice for them to get sense of identification.” What’s more, many of them go on the road of prostitution and drug trafficking. Some unscrupulous travel agencies do pornography in the name of "transgender" performance, which leads to vicious circle that they are equal to sex worker and dancing girl.
At the same time, for the majority of transgender people, they need to do surgeries in order to keep beautiful look, gender identity and the promotion of living conditions. But due to the limited economic ability, they have to choose some irregular small clinics which brings them pains that beyond repair. Many people hold the negative thoughts that they could not find real love nor have a family. So they use the beauty at young to make money for the provision when old.
As a part of the group, both Yolanda and Nyuma don’t want they have such miserable reputation and live an abnormal life. But compared with social discrimination and pressure, their power is extremely small. 对泰国的大多数变性者而言，群体尴尬的背后是个体的生存困境。有媒体对此评论,“无法进入到正常工作岗位的变性者群体，终其一生都在寻求认同感和社会尊重，从业门槛极低的性行业，无疑成为变性者群体收获认同感的最便捷的选择。”此外，许多变性者还走上了卖淫贩毒的道路，一些无良旅游机构也趁机打着“变性者”表演的旗号进行着色情表演，继而又恶性循环使得这一群体在外的名声等同于性工作者及舞女。
与此同时，在大多数变性者心中，为了留住美貌，以求得性别认同以及生活条件的提升，常常需要去做一些手术。但由于经济能力有限，她们可能会选择一些不正规的小诊所，也由此导致了身体上无法修复的伤痛。很多人持着悲观的想法，认为自己不可能找到真正的爱情，也无法组建自己的家庭，利用年轻时的美貌来换取金钱，以期能够养老。作为其中的一员，包括优兰达和尼乌玛在内都不愿群体背负如此悲惨的名声和无法过正常人的生活，但与社会的歧视和压力相较，她们的能力显得非常渺小。
There is a long way to understand and accept
“the third gender”
“第三性别”被正视、理解、
接受之路任重道远
Like said above, for “the third gender”, the awkwardness of living conditions makes them facing kinds of problems every day. But just like Nyuma, more people don’t care the name of the group, but the acceptance and understanding of the society. “It is a treatable mental disease for Asia countries thinking us strange, not a disease” said Nyuma to the media.
“People always are with novelty psychology.” Prempreeda Ayutthaya said, and she also stressed the helpless situation for them. So the addition of “the third gender” in the new constitution though won symbolic welcome, the pessimistic mood also exists.
Citing the report of CRI online Sally Tara, person in charge of “Equality and Action Federation” stressed at an outgiving that, “the constitution made at the junta's state is not democratic and lasting. The pass of the draft cannot have long-term change.” She said, Thailand hasn’t formed the social awareness of respecting law and building democratic system. The issue of law cannot represent the correct enforcement of it. If the law enforcers have no idea of gender equality, it would not work.” “So I think the change should be started from root,” she expressed her concern.
对“第三性别”而言，生存现状的尴尬使得该群体每天都会面临各种各样的问题。不过，与尼乌玛一样，更多的人并不在乎加在这个群体上的是怎样的称谓，而更在乎社会的接受程度以及给予的正视和理解。“无论亚洲哪个国家都觉得我们是奇怪的，是一种可治疗的心理疾病，但这不是一种病。”尼乌玛对媒体坦言。
“人们一般都是带着猎奇的心理。”Prempreeda Ayutthaya对此指出，她也强调该群体所处的无奈境遇。对于此次泰国新宪法拟加入“第三性”的用词，虽得到了象征性的欢迎，但持悲观情绪的人也同样存在。
援引国际在线的报道，非政府组织“平等和行动联合会”负责人莎塔拉在公开声明中强调,“现有的军政府状态下制定的宪法本身就是不民主和不持久的，通过这种方式，即使通过这一草案也不会产生长期性的改变。”她指出，泰国还没有树立起这种尊重法律建立民主制度的社会意识，法律的出台不代表执行法律的人能够正确执法，如果他们没有性别同等的视野，这样是没用的。“所以我觉得应该从根基上来改变问题”，她表示了自己的担忧。
Pillai, senior officer of UN human rights said in an early open report that, “when making the law, it should consider the needs of special groups and protect their human rights.” For the most cogent need for “the third gender”, maybe it is the equal treatment when keeping them from the discrimination in employment, medical care, education and law. Some experts said, “it can be started from the arrangement of suitable restroom or dressing room for them that can help them get into the society without strange looking. All of these are necessary things for government stressing human rights and equality.”
When Germany at first passed similar rules, media widely proposed that, the current Marriage Law only admits the combination of men and women and Partner Law admits same-sex relationships. But “the third gender” is outside of the both. It needs governments to discuss and study for defining the notion of marriage and partner in the future. So on the topic of “the third gender”, there is still a long way to go.
联合国人权事务高级专员皮莱则在早前的公开报道中表示,“制定本国法律时应多考虑这些特殊群体的需要，使这些群体的人权得到保护。”对于“第三性别”最切实的群体需要，或许更多的是使其在就业、医疗、教育、法律等方面免遭歧视的同时，能够被公平对待。
“先从为‘第三性’群体安排合适的洗手间或者更衣间，使其能融进社会不再接受社会异样的眼光开始，这些都应是政府和社会强调人权平等的应有之义。”有专家如是表示。
当然，还有像德国政府最初在通过类似的规定时，媒体广泛提出德国目前的《婚姻法》只承认男女异性结合，《伴侣法》则承认同性关系。但是“第三性”游离于这之外，未来如何界定婚姻和伴侣概念还需要政府继续深入研究和讨论。由此可知，在“第三性别”的话题上，未来的路依然任重而道远。
Links: “the third gender” in different countries
链接:“第三性别”在各国
In fact, Thailand is not the only country in the world which admits “the third gender”.
It is said that, Australia is the first country which legally admits “the third gender”. According to it, when applying individual files, people can choose the third gender. In September, 2011, Australia government announced that, citizens with Australian passport can add the third gender besides “male” and “female” marked as “X”. According to this regulation, if citizens want to apply for gender change in passports, they only need to offer a medical certification.
What’s more, New Zealand issued this kind of policy in 2012. According to the local media, the new government allows people to identify their gender as male, female or the third gender – “X” (uncertain/undeclared), and they don’t need to change the gender records on birth certificate and citizen file. So New Zealand is regarded as a country with foresight in “the third gender”. In fact, as early as in 2008, a report of human rights committee once proposed that, everyone has the right to change the gender on passport and other materials.
实际上，泰国并不是世界上唯一承认“第三性别”的国家。
据悉，澳大利亚是世界上第一个承认“第三性别”法律的国家。外媒报道称，按照澳大利亚的法律规定，在申请所有人文件时个人可以选择第三类性别。时间追溯到2011年9月，澳大利亚政府即对外宣布，持有澳大利亚护照的公民在性别一栏标注中，除“男”、“女”外，可以增加第三种性别选项，标记为“X”。根据该规定，如果本国公民想申请护照性别更改，只需提供一份医生证明，即能在“男”、“女”、“第三性别”选项中进行更改。
此外，新西兰在2012年也实施了相应的政策。据当地媒体报道，新政表示允许人们标识他们的性别为男性、女性或是第三性——“X”（即未确定/未声明），并且不需要他们同时更改出生证明和公民文件上的性别记录。由此，新西兰也被认为是在“第三性别”上具有前瞻性眼光的国家。其实，早在2008年，该国的一份人权委员会出具的报告曾提议表示，任何人都有权对自己的护照以及其他资料上记录的性别做出更改。 From November, 2013, the birth certificate in Germany adds “blank” option besides “male” and “female”. Der Spiegel said that, this revision allows parents to choose the gender of their babies and those kids with bisexual characters to choose to be male or female in the future. And individuals can choose to keep the “blank” option.
At the same time, the supreme judicial court of India admitted “the third gender” in April, 2014, which means it allows the neutral or uncertain gender besides male and female. It was regarded as “a landmark rule” by the Time Magazine.
而德国人的出生证从2013年的11月开始，除了标准的“男性”、“女性”选项外，还增加了“空白”选项。德国《明镜周刊》表示，该修改法案允许家长选择确定自己宝宝的性别，允许那些出生时具有两性特征的孩子选择在以后的生活中成为男性还是女性。据此，个人也可以选择保留两性之外的“空白”选项。
与此同时，与以上国家同步的还有，印度最高法院也在2014年4月，裁定承认“第三性别”，即允许有男女之外的中性或者不确定性别。该举措被美国《时代》周刊看作“具有里程碑意义的裁定。”
In Nepal, officials of domestic affairs said in 2013 that the government would issue “the third gender” ID to those who don’t want to be defined as male or female and related orders also delivered to all local governments. This action was welcomed by related groups that it will make the life become easier for the minority of gender groups.
It is said that, in April, 2012, the supreme judicial court of Pakistan allowed “the third gender” group to get related ID; in the cabinet council of Bangladesh in November, 2013, its Premier Sheikh Hasina announced the approval of a proposal by social benefits department to admit “the third gender”.
在尼泊尔，2013年该国内政部官员表示政府将向那些不愿意被界定为男性或女性的人签发“第三性别”身份证，相关命令还下发到各地区政府。该举动得到了相关群体的欢迎，称将会使得少数性别人群的生活变得容易。
有消息称，2012年4月，巴基斯坦高级法院裁定允许“第三性别”人群获取相应身份证件；2013年11月孟加拉国内阁会议中，该国总理谢赫·哈西娜宣布批准社会福利部的一项提案，认可“第三种性别”。