Dr. Wayne Ho
Dr. Wayne Ho is a renowned specialist in HIV and LGBT medicine at the AIDS Project Los Angeles who is also the clinical lead and a founding stakeholder of Borderless.lgbt. Dr. Ho is committed to expanding access to medical knowledge and telemedicine services. In collaboration with technology experts from India and the inclusive culture of Thailand, Dr. Ho aims to democratize healthcare services for the global LGBTQIA+ community, especially in Asia, where more than 200 million people identify as LGBTQIA+. Dr. Ho also collaborates with other health professionals' including Dr. Kenneth Leong, to develo family planning counseling services - all while waiting for Thailand's imminent LGBTQIA+ family planning policies.
Q1. Can you update us on the evolution of cloud clinics in India?
Dr. Wayne Ho: Since our launch on December 15, 2022, Borderless.lgbt has attracted local doctors in India who have been very interested in these clinics-of-the-future. Nevertheless, the Indian Supreme Court's decision on October 17, 2023 denying appeals for legalizing same-sex marriage and initial plans. As a result, our physical presence in India has now evolved into a novel cross-border DE&I partnership between Thailand and India within Thailand's recently launched "Pink Plus" economy.
In this partnership, our focus will no longer exclusively be on providing clinic-of-the-future services in India because the legal limitations will end up restricting the scope of LGBTQIA+ healthcare. As an alternative, we are developing a new model that will integrate international health and wellness experts with Indian doctors through an online-offline co-care approach. While most treatments will still occur in India, this model will offer LGBTQIA+ individuals access to treatments beyond India, particularly in Thailand, which is emerging as a global hub for inclusive LGBTQIA+ health and wellness. Our larger vision of course, is to provide more opportunities for LGBTQIA+ individuals in India to visit Thailand for healthcare, marriage, family planning, and even retirement if they choose to do so.
Q2. The initial plan was to develop clinics-of-the-future in India, so what led to the prioritizing of the "Pink Plus" economy over that?
Dr. Wayne Ho: Same-sex marriage has been legalized in Thailand. So, we are expecting to attract global LGBTQIA+ individuals, including home buyers. This will also make Thailand an ideal hub for first or second homes for many. India too is a significant potential market for Thailand as we offer LGBTQIA+ individuals the opportunity to wed and invest in property in a very inclusive environment. In Thailand, people who are non-nationals can also legally register their marriages. They can even own freehold non-landed properties, and access affordable homes and comprehensive medical services. Additionally, many long-stay visas cater to those who want to reside in the country for lengthy periods. While many other countries today are becoming less inclusive, Thailand is a place that is democratizing global LGBTQIAs living in the country and therefore positioning itself as a global destination for LGBTQIA+ individuals. With government support, the launch of the "Pink Plus" economy, in collaboration with Borderless.lgbt's DE&I division, aims to make Thailand a hub where LGBTQIA+ individuals from India can live, marry, innovate, plan families, and retire. If same-sex marriage is eventually legalized in India, the "Pink Plus" economic model may be introduced there as well.
Q3. What are the grounds on which companies can work in partnership with the Pink Plus economy?
Dr. Wayne Ho: Companies in India can work with the "Pink Plus" economy in three major ways:
Borderless.lgbt's pink incubation program in Thailand is something that startups developing innovative pink tech solutions can take great advantage of to kick start their venture.
Also, tech companies and multinational corporations who have a DE&I mission can also take advantage of and join our existing "Pink Plus" ecosystem. This will let them explore opportunities in many areas including financial planning, retirement real estate, pink weddings, tourism, technology ventures, and healthcare and also pink clinical research.
DE&I-focused entrepreneurs from India can be trained in Thailand and become resellers of the "Pink Plus" membership package, this will help LGBTQIA+ individuals in India to live, wed, innovate, and retire in Thailand.
Q4. How do you envision the "Pink Plus" economy influencing the growth of Indian startups and tech companies?
Dr. Wayne Ho: By tapping into pink content, global LGBTQIA+ influencers (KOLs) and last-mile commercial ventures in pink retirement living projects, Indian tech companies and startups have considerable opportunities to leverage the "Pink Plus" economy. These projects offer a tech-driven smart living experience for LGBTQIA+ homebuyers and provide them with a smooth access to global products, services, and content. We expect the Indian startups and tech companies participating in the "Pink Plus" economy to stand out by focusing on the pink market. This will, distinguish themselves from more generic technology companies. In the U.S., over 28% of Generation Z identifies themselves as LGBTQIA+, and venture capitalists are increasingly exploring the pink space. The combination of India's tech expertise and Thailand's inclusivity positions both countries to lead innovation in the largely underserved and underdeveloped LGBTQIA+ market.
Q5. What are the future plans for India for Borderless LGBTQ's?
Dr. Wayne Ho: Since August, Borderless.lgbt has launched a series of "Pink Plus" memberships that aims to help LGBTQIA+ individuals in India to live, marry, innovate, plan families, and retire in Thailand. The Borderless.lgbt website shares webinars at no cost and it streams content about various topics, including wedding planning, family planning, home buying, retirement, and incubating pink startups in Thailand.
LGBTQIA+ individuals in India who are planning their weddings and seeking to register their marriages in Thailand can also access a range of unique online and offline services. These offerings will include features like using celebrity avatars for wedding e-invitations and utilizing world-class AI-enabled virtual production facilities in Thailand to create wedding videos within the world's first LGBTQIA wedding metaverse. The inaugural pink weddings are anticipated to take place by the end of 2024 or early 2025.
