We recently met a guy who works the bars and discos around Bangkok's Silom and Suriwong Roads, and he agreed to anonymously talk about his lifestyle as a male prostitute. We'll call him Art (not his real name). None of these photos are of Art.
ART'S STORY
"When I smile and show them some flesh, they do things my way"
| DC: Where are you from, and how old are you?
ART: I'm 23 and come from Korat in Isaan (northeast Thailand).
DC: How long have you been in Bangkok?
ART: About four years.
DC: Have you been sellling yourself all that time?
ART: Yes, a friend told me it was a good way to make some easy money.
DC: Were you a virgin when you first started out?
ART: No, but I didn't have much experience, and I'd never met a farang (westerner).
DC: When you first started, what did yoiu think?
ART: I wasn't sure about going with foreigners, but I quickly found out that most of them were easy to control.
DC: What do you mean?
ART: When I smile and show them some flesh, they do things my way. |
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"I have a big personality, and I know that farangs think I'm cute, so I have it all going for me"
| DC: Do you work in a bar, or are you a freelancer?
ART: I'm a freelancer, I like to please myself.
DC: Do you enjoy what you do?
ART: I'm used to it, I don't mind, and I can work when I want to.
DC: Do you think you are successful?
ART: You mean do I make good money, or do I make my tricks happy?
DC: Do you make good money?
ART: Yes, pretty good, but some months are not so good. Better than working in a bar or office.
DC: Some moneyboys don't do so well, why do you do well?
ART: I have a big personality, and I know that farangs think I'm cute, so I have it all going for me.
DC: How do you find your customers?
ART: I have some regular guys that call me up, and I work the bars around Silom at night. |
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"I know how to pick a trick, and how to handle them so I don't have any problems"
| DC: Do you have a regular boyfriend?
ART: No!
DC: Why not?
ART: I'm not sure that I'm gay.
DC: So do you have a girlfriend?
ART: No, but sometimes I play with a girl if I'm in the mood.
DC: How many guys do you have sex with in a week?
ART: That's difficult to answer, sometimes six or seven, sometimes more, sometimes less.
DC: Do you go with anyone who asks you?
ART: I did when I first started out, but not now unless I'm short of money, and that's not very often.
DC: Do you ever have problems with your customers?
ART: When I first started out, I had a couple of difficult guys, one would not pay even after we agree how much. But now. I don't pick up guys that are drunk of seem weird in some way.
DC: Do you make your customers happy?
ART: I think so, I try to judge what the guy likes, and keep him happy, and not rush too much like some of my friends do.
DC: So what kind of guy will you go with?
ART: He has to be clean and neat, and if he looks like he has plenty money, that's great. |
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"I don't think it is right or wrong. They are happy and I'm happy"
| DC: Why does it matter as long as he pays you?
ART: I don't like smelly or untidy guys.
DC: I mean, about money.
ART: Oh, if he has some money, maybe he would see me again, buy me some gold, take me to a nice place for eating, things like that.
DC: Sounds like you want a boyfriend.
ART: Not at all. Like I said, I'm not sute that I am gay. I just want some nice things and a nice lifestyle.
DC: Do you get gifts from your customers? What kind of things?
ART: Mobile phone, gold jewelry, a trip upcountry, a TV. Guys have given me all these things before.
DC: Do any of these guys consider you as their boyfriend?
ART: Yes a few do, and I'm happy to play them along while I can earn something from them.
DC: Do you think that is right?
ART: I don't think it is right or wrong. They are happy and I'm happy. |
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"I will tell him to use a condom but if he doesn't I don't say anything"
| DC: Have you ever felt that one of your customers was something special, something different?
ART: Hmm, yes, there's a couple of guys who are like that, almost like an uncle. They understand what I'm doing and don't judge me for it.
DC: When you have sex with a customer, will you do anything he asks you to do?
ART: Most of the time it's just fucking and sucking, I'm fine with that. Sometimes a guy might want something a bit wierd, if it's something I'm comfortable with I might do that for extra money.
DC: Do you prefer to be a king or queen (top or bottom)?
ART: At first I was only a king (top) but now I can accept being fucked I do both, what ever makes my trick happy.
DC: And do you practice safe sex with your customers?
ART: If I'm going to fuck him, always, but if he wants to fuck me, then it's up to him. I will tell him to use a condom but if he doesn't I don't say anything.
DC: Why not?
ART: I don't want to upset my trick, I don't want to lose my money.
DC: Have you ever had an AIDS test?
ART: Yes, a couple of years ago.
DC: What was the result?
ART: I was clear.
DC: And what about now?
ART: What do you mean?
DC: Don't you think you should get tested more often?
ART: What for? I've been tested. |
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"Do guys ask to do strange things with you?"
| DC: Do guys ask you to do strange things?
ART: Sometimes, like three or four guys together, or ask me to slap them.
DC: Slap them?
ART: Yes, you know, on the ass. Some guys like that.
DC: What else?
ART: I had some guy ask to piss on me, and one guy want to tie the rope around me.
DC: And did you let them?
ART: I'm not saying.
DC: When you are in a bar looking for a customer, do the bar managers know what you are doing?
ART: I think most do, but they don't bother me if I behave well, and don't hassle their customers.
DC: So you just sit and wait for someone to talk to you?
ART: Usually. Someone will smile, or come up to me. I will smile at any likely trick, but if he doesn't show interest I don't push it. I don't want any problems with the places I'm working in.
DC: What do you do with the money you earn?
ART: Well I have to eat and pay my rent, but I send money to my family every month too.
DC: Do they know what you do for a job?
ART: No, I told them I'm a tour guide. |
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| DC: I heard that you are buying a condominium.
ART: Yes, I just put the deposit on it last week. It will be finished in about a year, then I will have my own place.
DC: That must be expensive, how can you do that?
ART: I saved quite a lot of money that guys sent to me; I want to have a comfortable life. My home was in a small wooden house in the ricefields. It's not very nice way to live, and now I can do better..
DC: Do you know many other money boys who can buy a condo or house?
ART: No; most of my friends just spend the money when they get it. I want a nice place to live, so I saved my money.
DC: What do you do in your free time?
ART: I love to karaoke, or play bowling and watch a movie with my friends.
DC: Who is the most important person in your life?
ART: My mother. She means everything to me.
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