One of the most talked-about campaign policies of the People’s Party ahead of Thailand’s February election is a proposal to allow people to change their personal title according to their own choice.
The policy, called “voluntary personal titles”, would allow individuals to change titles such as “Mr”, “Miss” or “Mrs” to match their gender identity. The party says it plans to introduce a law allowing people to choose their title in line with their will and gender identity.
On its website, the People’s Party says traditional Thai titles such as “boy”, “girl”, “Mr”, “Mrs” and “Miss” are based on sex at birth and age, and no longer reflect social reality for people with diverse gender identities.
Although the law was amended in 2008 to allow married women to keep the title “Miss”, current Thai law does not allow transgender people to choose their title freely, the party says.
A similar bill was proposed in the 26th House of Representatives but was rejected over concerns that title changes could be used to deceive others, including in cases of marriage. The People’s Party argues those concerns are exaggerated, saying civil law already allows marriages based on fraud to be annulled.
The party says personal titles are social conventions and should be updated to respect people’s identities equally.
Supporters say the policy represents legal progress and greater equality, especially after Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia to pass a same-sex marriage law.
However, the proposal has drawn criticism, particularly from medical professionals.
A Facebook page run by a medical worker, Remrin, warned that changing titles and sex markers in documents could increase the risk of medical error, especially in emergencies when doctors rely on ID cards. The post said some emergency conditions depend on sex at birth, such as ectopic pregnancy or ovarian cysts, and misidentification could delay correct treatment.
Dr Khanat Krutkul, president of the Federation of Health and Elderly Care Enterprises, said changes to titles and gender markers in health records could cause confusion, delays in diagnosis and treatment, and pose risks to patients’ lives, particularly in emergency rooms. He said reports from other countries such as the United States and Canada had found that mismatches between documents and biological sex had led to misdiagnosis, delayed treatment and, in some cases, deaths.
In response, Kanasit Puangampai, a People’s Party list candidate, said she stood with transgender, non-binary and intersex communities, saying they face discrimination, exclusion and violence and cannot afford to wait any longer.
She said the party had consulted medical professionals and relevant groups before drafting the proposal, and said the aim of recognising gender and allowing title changes was to reduce discrimination and allow people to live safely and with dignity.
She said doctors with professional ethics could adapt and work together to find practical solutions, and urged all sides to engage calmly and constructively.
With the election approaching, the debate over voluntary personal titles has become a test case for how Thailand balances expanding recognition of gender diversity with concerns over legal clarity and public safety. Whether the proposal moves forward is likely to depend not only on political support, but also on whether lawmakers can address medical and administrative concerns in a way that reassures the public while protecting the rights and dignity of gender-diverse people.