As Pinit Ngarmpring, he was a CEO and sports promoter, well known in the world of Thai football. Now, under her preferred new name of Pauline Ngarmpring, she’s pursuing a bid to become the country’s first transgender prime minister.

The 52-year-old is one of three candidates put forward by a political party for the post in next month’s general election.

She says she wants her nomination to bring hope to the marginalised and open up political space for future generations of LGBT+ people.

With over a month to go before the 24 March polling day, she campaigned this week in one of Bangkok’s more infamous nightlife areas.

Many vulnerable or exploited people work in this twilight zone of go-go bars, cheap hotels and massage parlours. It’s exactly the constituency the Mahachon party seeks to represent, and she’s eager to hear their concerns.

A transgender man’s journey Show all 24 1 /24 A transgender man’s journey A transgender man’s journey Massie, when he was 22, poses on his bed in St Louis, Missouri. He says: ‘I’m extremely fortunate to have the people in my life and to even have the transition I've had’ Reuters A transgender man’s journey Aged 22, posing with Heaven. ‘Heaven and I had a very brief relationship, which was always more of a friendship, we went through some very hard times together’ Reuters A transgender man’s journey ‘It’s beyond luck, karma, blessed, whatever you believe in. I honestly never thought I would get to this point in my life.’ Massie, aged 21, in 2011 Reuters A transgender man’s journey With Heaven when he was 24 Reuters A transgender man’s journey Massie poses in the shower at his mother’s apartment. ‘My mother has always supported me. Even if it took a minute I’m the favourite’ Reuters A transgender man’s journey Testosterone, a needle and an alcohol swab. ‘When I first started it was painful and scary because I’ve never liked needles or shots, but you just get used to it. It’s everyday life now’ Reuters A transgender man’s journey ‘My dad has always been my person, I fully believe I get my strangeness and my weirdness from him’. Massie, 28, and his father Robbin Reuters A transgender man’s journey Aged 21 in 2011. ‘At my private school, I was the pretty girl who “fell in with the wrong crowd”. I remember the most popular girl at the time saying she didn’t know why I hung out with lesbians’ Reuters A transgender man’s journey ‘Growing up in Saint Louis shaped me as a human... It’s truly my home.’ Massie with his car, aged 25 Reuters A transgender man’s journey Fiancee Sandra and Massie, 28, at their home in 2018 Reuters A transgender man’s journey In 2015, aged 25. ‘I want surgery because I’ve never had an attachment to the fat that has been on my chest since puberty. I will finally be able to go outside without a binder. Finally be able to swim’ Reuters A transgender man’s journey Massie, at 26, talks with Elle (left) and Mackenzie (centre) in Elle’s apartment in 2015. ‘I have very long-lasting friendships in my life. About nine of us have been friends for over 10 years now’ Reuters A transgender man’s journey In 2012, aged 22 Reuters A transgender man’s journey Massie and Sandra joke around in their backyard in 2017 Reuters A transgender man’s journey Giving himself a testosterone shot in his bedroom in 2017, aged 27 Reuters A transgender man’s journey Massie serves a cocktail at Planter’s House in St Louis. ‘When I first started transitioning I couldn't find a job for the life of me’ Reuters A transgender man’s journey Posing behind a curtain on the day before his 22nd birthday Reuters A transgender man’s journey Massie smiles as Reeny prepares his testosterone shot on the day before his birthday in an alley in St Louis Reuters A transgender man’s journey Massie, 27, and Sandra at a Pride in St Louis. ‘It’s the rarest of the rare, and the most healthy relationship I could ever hope for. We’re not just partners, we’re best friends. Sandra is my everything’ Reuters A transgender man’s journey ‘I started shaving before any hair had shown itself, because I wanted more to grow.’ Harrison, 22, looks in the mirror as he applies shaving foam Reuters A transgender man’s journey Massie, aged 24, wears a binder in 2013. ‘After seven years of binding I’m having back, shoulder, collar bone, and sternum issues’ Reuters A transgender man’s journey ‘Wanting a beard was one of my first ways of letting my friends know I was going to transition. Now, I have a beautiful red beard that I am very proud of.’ Aged 25 Reuters A transgender man’s journey Massie, 25, eats breakfast with his cat Reuters A transgender man’s journey Sandra has her head shaved Reuters

Masseuse Wassana Sorsawang says her concerns are “our welfare, mostly – health”. She complains that she and her colleagues often work double shifts, and it affects their health.

The Mahachon Party is contesting some 200 seats in the 500-member House of Representatives. About 20 of the candidates are openly LGBT+. Pauline joined only last November. Now, as their second-ranked nominee for prime minister, she finds herself a political trailblazer, a unique symbol of the fight for equality.

It’s fine, she says, if she cannot achieve her goal of becoming prime minister because she is the first “who dares enough to announce: ‘hey, we can do it!’”

She adds: “We are not saying we are better than male or female. We just want to say we are equal.”

Until three years ago, Pauline was Pinit: a father of two, a reporter turned businessman who became well known by founding a football fan association that was influential in Thai sporting circles.

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Since her gender transition she’s made it her mission, she said, to educate society. Her new political role gives her the perfect platform to counter those who still view LGBT+ rights – and her candidacy – with skepticism.

“Nowadays people say, ‘Oh you are transgender? You want to become our prime minister. It’s going to be funny, it is going to be a very strange story,”’ she says.

“But I don’t think that way,” she adds. “Whatever you are, you have your value. You love yourself and then you share with people.”

LGBT+ activists have praised her efforts.

“Her decision to enter politics is great news for our community,” says Wattana Keiangpa, founder of Apcom Thailand, an organisation working for health and rights of gender minority groups.

He says groups like his have worked from outside the system on these issues. He adds: “The prospect of having someone in the government or the parliament being a spokesperson for our community is definitely a big step forward.

“In the end, it’s the people who have faced the same challenges as us and understand us who should be speaking for us. Pauline is one of us, and has worked within our community so she would have great understanding of our challenges and needs. And I admire her and support her for doing such a thing.”

The Mahachon party hopes its human rights-based agenda will appeal in particular to Thailand’s large LGBT+ and sex worker population. One policy is to legalise prostitution.

The result, Pauline says, could be up to 10 lawmakers in parliament, thanks to a new electoral system that allocates some of the seats through proportional representation.

But, even given Thailand’s traditionally accepting view of sexual fluidity, she knows she is not destined to lead the country.

“I will not be a prime minister,” she says. “But it doesn’t matter. It will take some time and it is not going to be the end of the world after the next election.

“It doesn’t have to be me. It can be the next generation.”