00:00Why are these trans women going viral outside a military recruitment centre in Thailand?
00:04You are watching footage from Thailand's annual conscription lottery,
00:06where a group of transgender women known as angels are taking the internet by storm.
00:10Thailand's annual military conscription event is a highly anticipated moment for Thai men aged 21 to 26.
00:15Each year they gather at local recruitment centres to determine their fate through a national lottery.
00:20Everyone receives an envelope, and inside is either a red card or a black card.
00:23Red means you've been selected for military service, while black means you're exempt.
00:31However, a new viral tradition has emerged within Thailand's trans community.
00:34While transgender individuals are still required to show up in person to the draft lottery,
00:38they can be exempt from service if they provide a gender reassignment certificate or relevant medical documents.
00:43Each year, trans women across the country head to recruitment centres to submit their paperwork,
00:47often turning the moment into a celebration,
00:49complete with photo shoots proudly holding their certificates outside the recruitment centre.
00:53While it remains illegal for trans people to serve in Thailand's military,
00:55this annual tradition has turned into a powerful symbol of pride for the country's trans community.
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