Bangkok - A Thai transvestite with an excellent record for community service has been appointed district chief of a village in Samut Prakan province despite his cross-dressing tendancies, news reports said Tuesday.

Choochat Dulayapraphatsorn, 46, defeated three other more traditionally male candidates in a local election for district chief of Tai Ban Mai village in Samut Prakan, 30 kilometres north of Bangkok, reported the Bangkok Post.
Although a self-confessed cross-dresser who goes by the name "Jae Kob" or "Sister Kob" when in drag, Choochat said he had won the election because of his long record of community service including crime prevention, catching pythons that have slipped in to people's houses and vaccinating pet dogs against rabies.

"I'm confident that everyone here loves and accepts me," Choochat told the Bangkok Post.

"Even though I am a transvestite, I can do hard, physical jobs just as well as men if not better," he added.

It was believed to be the first time that a transvestite was elected district chief in the province. (dpa)