Marisa J. Amberson is a transgender lesbian woman from Bangkok, Thailand. She is also an artist, and the creator of Love Friends – A comic all about the story of a group of friends, who are all unique in their own ways, but are connected through the power love. Through her art, she is trying to spread awareness and inform people about various LGBTQIA+ identities that Thai media often ignores, while also working directly with people in the community to make sure their unique experiences are being represented properly.
The western world has a perception of our Southeast Asian country as very progressive and LGBTQIA+ friendly. I suppose there is some truth in that. We even recently passed a marriage equality bill! But life in Thailand as a transgender lesbian woman doesn’t actually match up to that idealised view.