Designing, implementing, maintaining and evaluating a safe space for online counselling for Transgenders (TGs) in Thailand to understand personal HIV risk through social networks and instant messaging software Nada Chaiyajit Dr Christopher S. Walsh

Background to the TLBz Sexperts! Online counseling service In Thailand, HIV prevalence among TGs is higher than Gay and other MSMs Transgenders are different from gay men and other MSM! TLBz.me (ThaiLadyBoyz) was the first virtual community (2002) designed to improve TGs’ lives (including sexual health) and build their self-esteem TLBz.me is a safe space for transgenders share their expereicnes and talk about important issues like beauty, finding a boyfriends, sex, gender reassignment, rights and getting a job (from Thai transgeder perspective) The history of TLBz sexperts! (Dr Chris)

Who are we? We are experts about transgender sex! (pre & post operation) We know how to talk about our neovaginas We know how to talk about safe sex and pleasure for all transgenders We know hot to talk about access to justice We know how to refer transgenders to sexual health services, access to justice through university-based clinical legal education We know how to talk to transgenders to empower them to feel proud for who they are and love their bodies and themselves! We received training from RFSL Stockholm’s successful “We are the Sexperts! Program and The Open University (UK) through an amfAR funded project )

We are a low-cost transgender counseling service using social networks MSN instant messaging: We are virtual community based group! We are Thai transgenders helping our community overcome stigma & discriminating and human rights abuses!

TLBz Sexperts! methods We network with 2 Thai transgender groups (1019 members) and 1 LGBTI Human Rights group (2078 members) on Facebook On Facebook we disseminate information about sexual pleasure, safe sex, personal risk to HIV, and legal and human rights through TLBz.me and the TLBzSexperts Facebook page Using all 3 Facebook sites, we advertise that a TLBz Sexperts! (peer counselor) is available to chat about any issue important to transgender life in Thailand We usually start chatting about beauty, hormone use, surgery, boyfriends, sex and how to deal with gender transformation and the resulting stigma and discrimination Within these chats, we then weave in information about safe sex, personal risk to HIV and other STIs and how to access justice if a transgender finds her rights violated. We also educate transgenders about their legal rights under the Thai constitution and let them know that hey have rights and that we here together to fight for our rights! We chat privately via MSN messenger, Facebook chat Monday – Friday 8:30-11:30 PM or on the TLBz weboard (24/7) and this happens through the computers, but more often through mobile devices (phones & tablets)

How does TLBz Sexperts! work?

Intervention with TGs closed group on Facebook

TLBz Sexperts! page

TLBz Sexperts! Peer counseling advertisement

Weboard

MSN Instant messaging

Example 1 of TLBz Sexperts! Chat TG : I want to know the difference between anal sex and neo- vagina? Any suggestion? I used to have anal sex only. TLBz Sexpert!: Before I give the answer can you tell me whether you had skin graft or sigmoid colon technic? TG : Just skin graft. TLBz Sexpert!: Basically skin graft technic reverses the penile skin to create the vagina wall. So human skin can’t produce lubricant, thus when having sex you need to use condom together with water based lubricant. Think about when you have to do dilation, having sex is nearly the same, you just replace from the dilator a human one! TG : Ha ha so shy. TLBz Sexpert!: Of course first time should be exciting! You may have to talk with your partner, persuade him to trying to touch your vagina through foreplay. He needs to know that your pussy is not 100% similar to a genetic female. This will help both of you feel relaxed and ready to move on! So having sex with neo-vagina is different from anal because of different feel between skin graft and rectum tissue and you don’t have to worry too much about the depth when having anal sex :D

Example 1 of TLBz Sexperts! Chat TLBz Sexpert!: Hello welcome to TLBz Sexpert! services. TG : I want to know about KY, What is the best lubricant between KY, Vasline and body lotion? TLBz Sexpert!: That’s really good question :) TG : I have a new boyfriend. I used to try Vaseline or body lotion sometimes because it’s easy but have heard KY is better for having sex. […] TLBz Sexpert!: Let’s back to the safe sex issue. From your question about KY, Vaseline and body lotion, do you use with condom? TG : With the first period of love I use, but with long-term partner I rarely use it. TLBz Sexpert!: Let me start with KY and condoms, they are the perfect match! They are like soul mates, always orgasm together! But if we separate condom by using it with Vaseline then...it can be a tragedy because condom will die because of breakage!...

TLBz Sexperts! outcomes Effective! Because since September 2011 we have had over 300 chats Our approach is low cost because we Social Networking effectively. Our approach is unique because it builds trust and empowers Thai TG individuals and communities. Our approach is effective because it integrates sexual health and human rights education within a peer-based counseling service. Our approach helps TGs understand personal risk to HIV and is empowering at the same time. We have sexpertise!!!

Sawasdee Ka!! For more information please us at – –