Perched within the labyrinthine confines of a bustling mall located in the vibrant city of Chon Buri, sits a theatre where two transwomen, Cher, 27, and Joy, 26, were subjected to an unprovoked assault. Their story, a harrowing tale of prejudice and inequality, found an audience with the popular newspaper, ThaiRath. Their attacker, a man whose arrogance was cloaked in a claim of possessing connections with influential police officers, was brought to light by the victims’ courageous sharing.
The incident was triggered by a simple, innocuous request. Cher and Joy were merely trying to enjoy their cinematic experience when the incessant chatter of two men and a woman disrupted the tranquil dark. After enduring more than half an hour of this unnecessary discord, they innocently asked those involved to please lower their voices. Their request was met with a vulgarity-laden tirade, derogatory comments, and a surprising level of anger.
Disturbing the peace of the cinema, the man lashed out, his foot lashing against a theater chair in a display of hostility. Cher and Joy, mindful of the situation and willing to avoid a breach of peace, voiced their intention − they wanted to watch the film undisturbed. Unfortunately, their assertion had the opposite effect. The man continued his relentless torment; his threats escalating from verbal to physical, with a sinister promise of a showdown outside the theatre.
This infuriated individual, driven by unspeakable rage, attempted to conceal his identity with a cap and a face mask. He engaged in a waiting game, marking his presence at the entrance of the theater, a blur biding his time unseen in their path. Upon exiting, Cher and Joy were drawn into an anxiously anticipated confrontation. A quick spark of instinct urged the pair to record the exchange.
The situation spiraled into a violent crescendo, with Cher shoved onto the unyielding floor and Joy, ruthlessly slapped in her face, and subjected to further brutality. Fortunately, a good Samaritan intervened, providing a much-needed reprieve from the angry man.
Their attempt to capture the harrowing incident on their phone met with further antagonism, as their implement of capturing this assault was damaged at the hands of the spiteful man. Nevertheless, his fury was not satiated. He continued his tirade, vehemently reminding them of his false sense of invincibility, fuelled by his perceived influential acquaintances.
Shaken, embarrassed, and fearing for their safety, Cher and Joy extended an apology to their tormentor and quickly retreated from the scene. Driven by a concern for their safety and in pursuit of justice, they made their way to the Laem Chabang Police Station, laying down a formal complaint against the assailant. The waiting games ensues, with no word from the police thus far regarding the progress of the case. Despite the agonizing tension of their trials, one truth remains. The tale of Cher and Joy, much like the many before them, finds a home among the narratives shared by The Thaiger, offering a platform to unheard voices and underreported stories.
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