Abstract
The spread of AIDS epidemic in Thai society through some forms of sexual contact led to the policy that has been focusing on changing sexual behavior of people. Certain forms of behavior, such as teen and commercial sex, have been classified as highly risky. The policy relies on the measures to convince or force people to contain their sexual conduct in monogamous marriage. Although such measures succeeded in raising public awareness about AIDS, sex outside marriage has continued and new high-risk groups emerged. People in Thai society seem to resist the attempt of the state to discipline their sexual behavior. Based firmly on dominant system of belief about sexuality, policy on AIDS reflects and perpetuates sexual and gender inequality which has been accounting for social vulnerability to contact the HIV virus of various groups of people. The policy has been a mechanism to control sexual practices of the people. The policy process on AIDS issue has also been a site of contestation of many groups with different sexual beliefs. Policy on AIDS has been affected, as well as a part of, sexual politics that people negotiate and resist the dominant version of sexuality in Thai society.
