CULTURE: Transsexuals Take to Sky on New Thai Airline!

A new airline in Thailand says it is the first in the country, and possibly the world, to hire transsexual flight attendants. PC Air plans to start flying Asian routes in April and four transsexuals—or "ladyboys"—will be among its 30 cabin crew, the Daily Mail reports. Thailand has traditionally been tolerant of what it labels the "third sex," but job opportunities for transsexuals are still limited, says the airline's chief, himself a former flight attendant.

"I think it's time for the Thai society to be more open and support freedom of all sexes," says the owner, who had originally planned to hire only male and female cabin crew but changed his mind after receiving a flood of applications from transsexuals. "I had applied to many airlines and was repeatedly turned down. They said because I was a transsexual, not a real woman," one of the new hires says. "This is the first time somebody told me to come as I am and put on my best dress."