LGBT community feels the heat in Myanmar post-coup

14 July 2022
LGBT community feels the heat in Myanmar post-coup
Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community dance under a rainbow flag displayed on a boat during a pride boat parade, as part of Myanmar's annual (LGBT) festival, in Yangon on January 18, 2020. Photo: Sai Aung Main / AFP

It was about 10 years ago that Myat Kyaw Zin found that he was different from the majority of teenagers.

The 25-year-old Yangon resident – who prefers to go by his nickname - says he initially struggled with his feelings when he realized at the age of 15 that he was gay or homosexual in a society that general frowns on anything sexual or involving gender that deviates from the norm – heterosexuality.

Myat says people use harsh words against him – given that society approves of you being either a guy or a girl.

It was a struggle as a teenager to accept his sexual orientation, he says. And his family and friends in the rural areas where he grew up did not help.

He says a lot has changed over the decade since he gradually grew to terms with himself. But then the coup disrupted a country in the struggles of opening up.

Myanmar is a conservative patriarchal society in which homosexuality tends to be viewed as a sin.

A decade ago, even in urban areas, people did not widely use the word LGBT, with the derogatory term “A chauk” being used to insult homosexual boys and men.

Myat says back then he felt disgusted with himself, as society and the media tend to look down on people like him and he himself had fallen for the indoctrination or programming. The narrow-minded influence of movies in which homosexual characters were looked down upon did not help. This made it tough for LGBT people to live openly in society.

“It is also a wrong idea that the role of so-called ‘A chauk’ is portrayed as a disgusting character by actors in some Myanmar movies. It has a great impact on our largely Buddhist and conservative country.

The actors’ actions lead to a misunderstanding about LGBTs. When I started to realize my identity, I was disgusted with myself as I lacked general knowledge about gender issues. However, when mobile phone internet became accessible in Myanmar and I started using social media, I researched into LGBT. Then, I started accepting my existence. But, because of the conservative mindset of the people of our country, it is still difficult to live in accord with my sexual inclination in my society.”

Though Myat accepts and understands his sexual identity, it is not easy for him to live with the hostility of society.

He moved from a rural area to Yangon to find a job. It was difficult for him to get a stable job in part due to his sexual orientation and how open he could be.

“In my previous workplace, I did not keep my sexual orientation a secret. Thus, I was condemned and ridiculed,” Myat said.

“In the workplaces, there were rules and regulations that meant I had to keep my sexual orientation secret,” he said.

But over the last five years – with the peace and stability under a quasi-democratic system – there has been more opportunity for LGBT rights in Myanmar.

In order to shed light on the LGBT issue, the Yangon Pride-LGBT festival was organized by 'Proud five times in which for both LGBT people and supporters participated. In addition, the LGBTIQ Boat Parade was held two times, in 2019, 2020, in Yangon. Boats with LGBT flags were sailed along the Yangon River.

These festivals were held to encourage society to accept LGBTIQ – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer.

Just when people like Myat were getting a sense that Myanmar society was getting more comfortable with the LGBT community, disaster struck.

The 2021 military coup was a step backward.

“During the good times, LGBT rights became strengthened and were widely accepted by the society. There was less discrimination in all areas. Now, because of the political problems, there is more discrimination against LGBT. Those who refuse to drop conservative religious views have negative stereotypes of LGBT.”

Myat has got beyond caring what his relatives think.

“I do not care about their unfair response,” he said.

“I have only one thought in mind. This is my life: it is alright as long as my existence does not harm other people. By thinking about life like this, it makes me at ease. Thinking ‘my existence is my own freedom’ makes my mind relax,” Myat adds.