[Pantyholic]

SUTHIWIT CHAYUTWORAKAN SAMUT PRAKAN : A transvestite has won a village head election after decades of service to the community.

Choochat Dulayapraphatsorn, 46, beat three other candidates during the village head election in his community late last month, and last Wednesday he was effectively appointed by a district chief as the village chief of Ban Moo 3, tambon Tai Ban Mai, Muang district.

Mr Choochat, called ''Je Kob'' or older sister Kob by villagers, said he decided to run for the post after serving as an assistant. The election was held after the previous village head resigned.

Mr Choochat said he believes the residents voted for him because they have witnessed what he has contributed to their community over many years.
''I'm confident that everybody here loves me and accepts me,'' Mr Choochat said.

Over years of community service, Mr Choochat has been involved in community crime prevention activities and has assisted neighbours with tasks such as catching pythons which have entered their houses and injecting their pet dogs with rabies vaccine. ''Even though I am a transvestite, I can do hard, physical jobs just as well as the men, if not better,'' he said.

Mr Choochat is now the only transvestite village chief in Samut Prakan. He said he wants to be a role model to children for his hard work in the community, irrespective of his gender identity.
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