US magazine Time has chosen a young Thai LGBTQ rights activist for its list of 100 rising stars who are shaping the future. 19-year-old Plaifah Kyoka Shodladd was recognized for contributing to Thailand’s same-sex marriage legislation.
Plaifah said: “I’m very honored to know that I can finally really represent my community, even though I cannot represent every single person’s story. I hope that it becomes this testament to our society that here a young queer person can do it, you can do it, and we can thrive together.”
Born to a Thai father and a Japanese mother, Plaifah has been working for the rights of LGBTQ people. Plaifah spoke in Thai parliament in June as a member of a committee on a landmark marriage equality bill. The teenager said that the weight of generations could be felt.
Thailand became the first nation in Southeast Asia to recognize same sex marriage. Couples will be able to wed starting in January.
Plaifah said, “It will become the gateway for our neighboring countries to actually open up and rethink their laws, their politics, and their societal issues, because it’s not just about Thailand, it’s about this whole world.”
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was also named on Time’s list. The magazine says Paetongtarn made history by becoming the youngest premier of Thailand.