For those who true love eludes for legal reasons, Valentine's Day is nothing to celebrate

Although oft repeated, the cliché that love knows no borders isn't quite true - at least for male-to-female transgenders.

The border stands very prominently in our love lives, and in an opposite way from what most people would imagine.

Instead of those geographically close to us, the only men who we have a realistic chance of sharing our lives with are foreigners.

How many Thai men can actually accept what Thai society calls "second-class women" as the other half of their lives? How many can withstand what their families and neighbours would say?

Even for those in love with foreigners, the road is far from easy.

Post-operation transgender Dee fell in love with an Austrian whose kids also adore her.

They couldn't get married because neither Thailand nor Austria has legalised same-sex marriage. They had hopes when Thai legislators discussed a bill on legal recognition of sex change and the Austrian parliament debated same-sex marriage.

Both hopes were doubly crushed when the Thai bill didn't pass and the Austrian Parliament was abruptly dissolved.

Although the embassy recognised their relationship, they could grant Dee - an optometry shop manager - only three-month visitor visas.

Luckily the couple found an Austrian transgender forum that advised them of a judiciary precedent in Austria allowing marriage in a similar case.

After many hurdles they were legally united in Austria, where they now live.

Another case illustrates the problems in Thailand.

American executive chef Lee fell in love online with executive secretary Jin and moved to Thailand to be with her. After two years of living together they had a wedding and religious ceremony (pictured) on Koh Samet, happily surrounded by families and friends.

However their otherwise happy couple life has met with various legal obstacles. Since their marriage isn't recognised by either country, Jin can't adopt Lee's surname.

Now running a resort together on Samui, they face trouble because of the lack of a marriage certificate, not only in their personal but also professional lives. A bank has rejected their joint application as spouses for a business loan.

If Thailand is literally the "land of the free", why is the freedom to love allowed for some and not others? For many transgenders, Valen-tine's Day may never arrive.