Thailand is famous for its seemingly gay-friendly attitudes, but homophobia certainly does exist. Lesbians are known as tom dee; they have their own hangouts and are usually less vocal and ostentatious than their male counterparts, or the theatrically inclined lady-boys (katoeys).
There are occasional Gay Pride-style events, as well as dazzling cabaret shows and beauty competitions for lady-boys, throughout the country. The same kind of nightlife that caters to heterosexual males is offered in Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket's Patong Beach. Venues range from gay bars and dance clubs, men-only saunas (bathhouses), and "pay at the door" parties. In Bangkok, the most popular male-only joint is the opulent Babylon men's club, off Sathorn Road.
The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA; tel. 800/448-8550 or 954/776-2626; www.iglta.org) is the trade association for the gay and lesbian travel industry, and offers an online directory of gay- and lesbian-friendly travel businesses; go to their website and click on "Members" -- many agencies offer tours and travel itineraries specifically for gay and lesbian travelers. Above and Beyond Tours (tel. 800/397-2681; www.abovebeyondtours.com) is the exclusive gay and lesbian tour operator for United Airlines. Now, Voyager (tel. 800/255-6951; www.nowvoyager.com) is a well-known San Francisco-based, gay-owned and -operated travel service with tours to Thailand.
Gay.com Travel (tel. 800/929-2268, or 415/644-8044; www.gay.com/travel or www.outandabout.com) is an excellent online successor to the popular Out & About print magazine. It provides regularly updated information about gay-owned, gay-oriented, and gay-friendly lodging, dining, sightseeing, nightlife, and shopping establishments in every important destination worldwide. It also offers trip-planning information for gay and lesbian travelers for more than 50 destinations along various themes, ranging from Sex & Travel to Vacations for Couples.
The following travel guides are available at many bookstores, or you can order them from any online bookseller: Spartacus International Gay Guide (Bruno Gmünder Verlag; www.spartacusworld.com/gayguide) and Odysseus: The International Gay Travel Planner (Odysseus Enterprises Ltd.), both good annual English-language guidebooks focused on gay men; and the Damron guides (www.damron.com), with separate annual books for gay men and lesbians.
Also check www.utopia-asia.com for gay-friendly information and plenty of travel tips for Thailand.
