LGBTQ People Take on Myanmar Dictators

Out Traveller The liberal daily The Guardian and the fortnightly US gay magazine The Advocate are amongst those reporting that LGBTQI people have taken their place in the broad coalition of groups protesting in Myanmar protesting against the seizure of power by the state’s military, who have placed democratic politicians under house arrest and have established a dictatorial junta.  Myanmar is sometimes referred to as Burma and was once a British colony in South East Asia.  It is from this period, Out Traveller bloggers point out, that anti-gay laws stem.  However, conservative cultural values prevail, with one young gay man telling another gay blog, called Nomadic Boys, that             “ because of the homophobic and closed society I live in, I have to be careful to prevent this from affecting my career. Burmese traditions and values have always been very conservative. Burmese culture in general is very sexually oppressive, so people have very limited views on what homosexuality is.”.  LGBTQ people taking part in the demonstrations are challenging attitudes, and apparently drag queens in full regalia have been welcomed with applause by other protestors.  However, things are very dangerous as well.  Al Jazeera says that the military junta have made serious threats against protesting groups and getting good quality information from Myanmar is difficult.   Many residents have taken to listening to the BBC or the programmes of the American backed Radio Free Asia.  Min Khant, a Yangon drag queen whose stage name is Walkie Talkie told The Guardian,   “We all know what we are facing.” But, he added, queer involvement in the protests, “will make us more accepted.”