We are Hapag-Lloyd – Sutee Promsen from Thailand

In our Newsportal series “We are Hapag-Lloyd”, we aim to introduce you to a wide range of voices, some of which are often muted, hidden or simply unexpected. In doing so, our purpose is not to criticize or promote one position over another, but to create a forum in which new voices can be heard as well as to prompt reflection on and discussion of the issues touched upon in a spirit of inclusiveness and mutual acceptance. We are very much looking forward to your comments and thoughts.

Today, Sutee Promsen tells us about the daily challenges he faces in Thailand. He works as Customer Service Booking Supervisor at our office in Bangkok.

Sutee, you call yourself a “ladyboy”. How do you remember growing up queer?

My life is divided into two parts. The first part, my childhood, lasted until I turned 18 years old. I had a very traditional Thai upbringing in the north of Thailand. My father is a teacher, and both of my parents had high expectations of me. They wanted me to be a “good boy” in every sense of the term. The second part, my adulthood, began after I finished high school in Bangkok. Here, I realized that I felt attracted to the male students in my school and that I perceived myself as a woman, not as a man. I didn’t share my self-awareness with my family. Only my best friends knew how I was really feeling inside.

What does being a “ladyboy” actually mean?

It means I was born as a man, but I look like a woman and I live as a woman. I can also do anything a man can do. There are lots of ladyboys in Thailand. In other countries, we would probably be referred to as “trans women”.

What allowed you to be open about your gender identity and your sexual orientation? Where did you find the necessary support to show your true self?

Enrolling in the university was a life-changing experience for me. I studied International Business in Bangkok. The courses were extremely demanding, so I gave it my all. I earned my bachelor’s degree and ventured into the world of exports and imports. But college meant much more to me than just setting professional goals: I also – finally – met people who were like me for the very first time in my life. Only then did I start living as a woman, privately and publicly.

How did you feel when you came out as a transgender person?

That wasn’t always pleasant, even though Bangkok back then was already much more tolerant than the place I grew up in. Some of my friends were also ladyboys, and we were sometimes insulted and bullied on the street. I was happy to know that I could count on my best friends. I could always tell them everything about me because they accepted me completely. My relationship with my parents is a different story. I first told them that I lived my life as a woman 10 years ago, when I turned 30. Year after year, they kept asking me when I would marry and give them grandchildren. But I wanted to prove that I could be professionally successful before I came out to them. Still, it wasn’t an easy thing for them to accept.

Has the situation changed over the years for queer people in Thailand?

Thailand has changed a lot, and it is now very open to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) people. We can live relatively safely now in our country, especially in big cities like Bangkok. I live quite happily together with my partner.

How accepting and respectful are your colleagues at Hapag-Lloyd?

I feel very well integrated in my team. My co-workers accept me the way I am, and my ability to do a good job is all that really matters to them. And the fact that I’ve spent the last 14 years working for Hapag-Lloyd goes to show just how rewarding this job is for me.

What would you like to tell people who have never met a trans person or a ladyboy?

It’s all about understanding. We are humans first. I would like them to know that we are all the same. All we want and need is to be treated with respect. We will show you how strong and how beautiful we are – and just how much we contribute while working at and for Hapag-Lloyd.