Thailand is generally one of the more visibly LGBTQ-friendly places in Asia, so same-sex couples and gender-nonconforming travelers usually do not need to hide affection in major cities, tourist areas, or nightlife venues. That said, everyday acceptance can still be mixed in more conservative settings, and many people use the respectful term
kathoey for transgender women or effeminate men, reflecting a long-standing local familiarity with gender diversity even if legal and social equality are still evolving.