The Ancient Art of Gender-Bending

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No such controversy surrounds Thailand's ultrafabulous and very popular "lady-boy" kickboxer, Parinya Kiatbusaba, who, at 16, is cuter and tougher and looks better in makeup than Dennis Rodman. Kiatbusaba is a kratoey, a traditional Thai gay transvestite. Widely accepted in the easygoing Thai culture, kratoeys (or lady-boys) host television talk shows, live in all-lady-boy housing projects, and even march in military parades. What they didn't do, until Kiatbusaba, was beat supermacho opponents to a bloody pulp in the ring.

In the provinces, he compiled a record of 20 wins—18 by knockouts—and two losses. In his first fight in Bangkok last February, Kiatbusaba (who boxes wearing foundation, lipstick, eye shadow, and pink nail polish) was paired with a bad-ass named Pongsak Sor Bunma. "He will learn that Thai boxing is a game for a real man," snarled Bunma. The modest Kiatbusaba dissolved in tears when he was told to strip naked for the weigh-in (officials let him keep his briefs on). The bell rang. Five rounds later, the lady-boy had pummeled and outpointed the "real man." Later he pulled the same trick on a burly Danish boxer. Now he packs Bangkok's Lumpini stadium for every bout. "Inside, I am a woman," says Parinya Kiatbusaba.

A very tough woman.

Jon Spayde is a contributing editor of Utne Reader. Research for this article was provided by Natasha Copeland, Erik Dahl, and Chadd Johnson.

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