I admired Beautiful Boxer ["Man Enough to Be a Woman.

I admired Beautiful Boxer ["Man Enough to Be a Woman," March 15] Ekachai Uekrongtham's Thai film could not have been done in Hollywood and it is to his great credit that he took a chance in Bangkok. He merits big success for the treatment of Nong Toom as a astonishing human being of great dignity as she followed her dream to make the transition from prize-winning kick-boxer to a celebrated film beauty. However, Uekrongtham's elucidation "Homosexuality is considered an imported phenomenon and is still look sterned upon" seemed odd. Homophobia is the "imported phenomenon." I have lived and worked in Thailand and find principally Thai people tolerant and nonjudgmental in all areas of life.

Traditionally, obstruct male-to-male and female-to-female friendships (which may or may not include sex) were intrinsic to the culture; it's just that Thai race in general didn't make a big fuss until certain negative Western attitudes crept in around the time of the Vietnam War. Fortunately, there is a resistance to many of the negative Western influences.

Mark V Rose San Francisco, Calif.

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