Bangkok – Universities yesterday banned transsexual people from wearing women’s uniforms at commencement ceremonies, saying they should respect the occasion and social norms.

Pirom Kamolrattanakul, chairman of the University Presidents’ Council of Thailand and president of Chulalongkorn University, said the 23 council members agreed that the dress code be adhered to during graduation rites, with students wearing uniforms according to their gender.

The Network of Transgender Women of Thailand had earlier called for an end to the regulation that forces transsexuals to wear men’s uniforms to classrooms, exams and graduation ceremonies on grounds that it obstructed freedom of choice.

A few universities, including the renown Chulalongkorn, allow transvestites and transsexuals to wear female uniforms to some classes.