Progressive Thai MP Wants Porn and Sex Toys Legalized

BANGKOK, Thailand—A progressive member of the Thai Parliament, also known as the Thailand National Assembly, wants to legalize porn and sex toys in the conservative-leaning constitutional monarchy, reports an English-language edition of the Thai publication The Nation.  Taopiphop Limjittrakorn, MP, is the lawmaker making these calls. He is a member of the Move Forward Party (MFP). MFP is a leftist-leaning progressive, social democratic party that is a part of the official opposition to the ruling coalition government. He outlined that he wants to amend the existing criminal code to permit the sale, production and distribution of adult movies and the sale and distribution of sex toys.  Taopiphop explained that he intends to introduce a bill that would lift the “total ban” outlined in Article 287 of the Thai criminal code.  “I hope this issue will help members of society to learn about one another and seek common solutions by discussing topics openly instead of being coy,” said Taopiphop.  Despite being a popular destination for sex tourists, sex work is still considered taboo for swaths of Thai society. For example, prostitution isn't illegal but solicitation is if it is carried out in a way that is “openly and shamelessly.” Online porn remains outlawed.  Freedom House, a global human rights non-governmental organization, rates Thailand as “partly free” and maintains the government’s ongoing censorship of the internet as a violation of basic human rights.