Thailand is one of the few countries in Asia where homosexuals and lesbians can be open about their sexual preference and not worry about hiding it. In fact, Thailand has a very unique, if not peculiar, way of establishing the rules of sexuality and sexual conduct especially in a country that is predominantly Buddhist. As one description succinctly says, in the West you can say anything but not do anything about it, but in Thailand you can do anything as long as you do not talk about it. This is a mind scratching conundrum especially for Westerners but it works effectively in the context of Thai social life.
In Thailand, modesty and freedom are interwoven in quite a strange way. For example, most tourists from the west are surprised by the modesty of the Thais especially in terms of nudity. They are averse to showering naked in gym showers, and would even change their clothes under cover of a towel. The modesty also extends to the bedroom. One traveler commented that his lover went to bed without removing his clothes. But modesty does not mean inhibition either. When the boundaries or intentions have been established, the Thais can be quite uninhibited.
This psychological and cultural idiosyncrasies are what is in play when you travel and go to places that are oriented towards the gay traveler.
There are the cabarets that showcase transvestites (or gender impersonators) strutting their stuff on stage. The transsexuals in Thailand are quite world famous for being very beautiful. There are even comments that they are more beautiful than real women.
Of course, the red light district also caters to gay travelers. There are a number of gay bars that dot the red light district of Patpong as well as the two other districts in the country. Here, one can interact with other travelers while also having the opportunity to meet up and hook up with Thais of a similar orientation.
There are number of online sites and companies that are actually catering to gay travelers to Thailand. These companies make itineraries and identify the gay friendly places in Thailand that travelers can go to when they visit the country. This is a great service as it leaves the guesswork out of trying to find out the gay friendly establishments in the country, making the whole trip so much more enjoyable.
The previously mentioned cultural idiosyncrasies also play to the advantage of gay travelers in a number of ways. When out in public and your lover holds your hand, it is actually more accepted, unlike in a western country. Another thing is that you can ask a man to give you massage and no one will really care.
With the influx of gay tourists to Thailand, a number of establishments have opened to cater to a mostly gay clientele. From hotels to cafes to nightclubs and bars, a growing number of establishments are now being advertised that really give gay travelers a wonderful vacation time in Thailand.