LAUSR

The Wonder Gays was a Thai K-pop cover-dance group. Their viral 2009 YouTube video covered the Wonder Girls’ song “Nobody” and consequently the Wonder Gays became an overnight sensation in Thailand, were signed by Zheza Records, and had a year-long tour. Their stardom however provoked questions about gender, sexuality and nationality. Wonder Gays’ effeminacy and popularity called into question their morality and their influence on other young people. Their video, performed in school uniform, on a school stage, in front of the flagpole but to a Korean song, raised concerns about the institutional and national legitimacy of their routine, and the relative status of Thailand in the world. Thus the Wonder Gays incited a gender panic about Thai masculinity.