‘Beauty pageant’: Thai transgender women seek publicity at military lottery exercise
Annual event mixes anxiety with celebration, one potential soldier holds amulet in mouth in hope of avoiding draft
Thailand’s military conscription lottery has made headlines for becoming a stage for transgender women who seek visibility and viral fame.
The country’s military service law requires all male citizens to serve in national defence. When individuals turn 21, they must participate in a conscription lottery.
Each participant receives an envelope containing either a red or a black card. A red card means they will enlist in the Thai military, typically for two years, while a black card signifies exemption.
The high-stakes moment blends celebration with anxiety.
This year’s lottery, which began on April 1, even saw an individual holding an amulet in his mouth while drawing lots, hoping to avoid military service.