Ladyboys - Thailand's third sex

(click image to view flash gallery)

In Thailand the concept of three sexes is ancient. Creation tales from northern Thailand
say that in the beginning, a man and woman had three children: a male, a female, and a
third sex. Many Thai believe that to be born a ladyboy or 'phuying praphet song'—literally
translated, 'second kind of woman'—is a result of one's karma. Many believe that in their
past lives, ladyboys were men who had many affairs with different women. It was their
karmic destiny to be reincarnated as a woman trapped in a man's body. Ladyboys believe
that if they behave well they will be reborn as either a man or woman. Thailand's
estimated 180,000 ladyboys might live as women, but legally they are considered men.
NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.COM