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Thailand’s “Hormones: the Series” has a lesbian relationship

A first of it’s kind in Thailand, where programming usually revolves around game shows and soap operas, Hormones: The Series is a teen drama that follows the lives of nine secondary school students at the fictional Nadao Bangkok College. Considered the Skins of Thailand, the show has struck a nerve with viewers due to storylines that deal with topical issues like teen sex, single parenthood, abortion, and class bullying.

Luckily director Songyos Sugmakanan, who made a movie of the same name back in 2008, considers it thought-provoking, recognizing the importance of a show that highlights issues that are not often discussed in Thai culture. In fact, the show has led to open discussions surrounding sex education and birth control and, now in its second season, shattered boundaries once again when they introduced lesbian characters Dao and Koi.

A main character from the beginning, Dao (Sananthachat Thanapatpisal) dated a boy in Season 1. That was until her mother found out and told her to focus on her studies. Being told they couldn’t see each other, he crawled through her window and they slept together. Unfortunately, she never heard from him again and was left with a pregnancy scare, finding herself publicly humiliated and shamed for pre-marital sex when she went into a drug store for emergency contraceptives. She was left the rest of the season having nightmares about getting an abortion.

Season 2 finds Dao still struggling with her past and an overbearing mother. She quickly becomes best friends with Koi (Kemisara Paladesh), a supporting character from season one that becomes a main character in Season 2. Both a year younger than the rest of the cast, Dao continues to seek comfort in Koi, admitting to her what had happened in her last relationship before sharing their first kiss in episode four.

Throughout the rest of the season, their classmates continually tease them for being gay, mostly upsetting Dao. At one point, in music class, one of her classmates attempts to provoke her by playing a pair of cup-shaped cymbals. Banging the aptly boob-shaped instruments together becomes a metaphor for lesbian sex. After repeated bullying, she reaches her breaking point, throwing the cymbals at her classmate. They then taunt her for not being able to take a joke.

It’s refreshing to see Hormones ability to weave relevant and hot button issues into genuine storylines, with no end in sight. The series isn’t available on public access television, but can be found easily on YouTube, with or without subtitles.

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