2024/08/18 by Thongprasop, Paweenwat
paper · doi:10.22024/unikent/03/fal.1228
This article explores the interplay of intimate publics, drag aesthetics, and queer constitutionalism in Thailand, responding to a recent Thai Constitutional Court ruling on same-sex marriage. Grounded in Lauren Berlant's concept of "intimate publics," the study showcases how the queer community, through shared emotional and historical experiences, forges a collective identity challenging prevailing heteronormative norms. The analysis critiques the 2021 court ruling, contrasting it with the political activism inherent in drag performances—a form of protest disrupting societal norms. The article advocates for more inclusive recognition of queer relationships in civil law, highlighting the subversive potential of drag aesthetics to reshape public discourse. Using an autoethnographic perspective, the author recounts personal experiences at a queer protest and a drag bar in Bangkok, emphasizing drag performances as a powerful tool for political activism, challenging entrenched social and legal norms in Thailand.