Myanmar’s LGBTQ Resistance

In Myanmar, LGBTQ+ activists are waging a war on two fronts—against an oppressive military regime and centuries of societal discrimination. Since the military coup in February 2021, queer individuals have emerged as key players in the resistance, facing not only political repression but deep-rooted legal and cultural stigma. For them, this isn’t just a political struggle; it’s a battle for survival and recognition.

The Legacy of Colonial Oppression: Section 377 and Beyond

Myanmar’s queer community has long been subjected to systemic oppression, anchored in Section 377¹. This colonial-era law criminalizes same-sex relations as “carnal intercourse against the order of nature”—a provision inherited from British rule that still haunts Myanmar’s legal landscape today. Though prosecutions are rare, Section 377 is often used as a tool of harassment and extortion by the police, particularly targeting gay men and transgender individuals.

The use of Section 377 by law enforcement is a daily reality for Myanmar’s LGBTQ+ community. Reports reveal that the police routinely exploit this law to extort bribes and detain queer individuals under false pretenses. Additionally, laws like the 1945 Police Act are used to disproportionately target transgender individuals, creating a legal framework that enables systematic abuse​.²

The junta’s rise to power following the coup has worsened these conditions. LGBTQ+ individuals not only face legal repression but also live under the constant threat of arbitrary detention and torture. Activists like Justin Min Hein have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms under the guise of anti-terrorism laws. Hein’s story is not unique; countless others have faced severe punishment for their involvement in anti-junta protests.^{3 4}

Resistance in the Face of Repression

Despite these immense challenges, Myanmar’s LGBTQ+ community has refused to be silenced. Following the 2021 coup, queer activists joined mass protests in unprecedented numbers, fighting not only for democracy but also for their right to exist. Organizations such as Colors Rainbow have been instrumental in mobilizing the LGBTQ+ community, promoting awareness of queer issues, and fostering solidarity within the broader pro-democracy movement.⁵

Many queer activists have even joined the armed resistance, aligning with the People’s Defense Forces (PDF), an anti-junta militia supported by the National Unity Government (NUG), which counts an openly gay human rights minister, Aung Myo Min, among its ranks. This marks a historic moment for Myanmar’s LGBTQ+ movement, as queer individuals take on leadership roles in both peaceful protests and armed resistance.⁶

The bravery of these activists has slowly begun to shift public attitudes. In rural areas, where LGBTQ+ people were once viewed with contempt, their visible role in the resistance has fostered a new sense of solidarity. As one straight woman from central Myanmar said, “Villagers thought LGBT people were disgusting… But when LGBT people joined the revolution, people started accepting them and working together”^{7 8}. These are hard-won gains in a country where traditional norms around gender and sexuality are deeply ingrained.

The Global Struggle and the fight for Reform

At the heart of Myanmar’s LGBTQ+ resistance is a push for legal reform. The repeal of Section 377 is one of the community’s primary goals, alongside demands for changes to Section 375, which defines rape exclusively as a man’s act against a woman, leaving LGBTQ+ individuals without adequate legal protection from sexual violence⁹. However, under the military regime, progress has stalled. LGBTQ+ activists are working under incredibly dangerous conditions, with many operating in exile or underground.

International LGBTQ+ rights groups and human rights organizations have taken notice, advocating for greater humanitarian support and pressuring the junta to end its persecution of queer individuals. Yet, the global response has been slow, and much more is needed. The international community must prioritize aid specifically for Myanmar’s LGBTQ+ population, many of whom are now living in hiding or displaced.

The Road Ahead

While Myanmar’s LGBTQ+ community has made significant strides, the fight is far from over. The cost of their resistance is high, with many queer activists facing imprisonment, torture, or worse. Nevertheless, they continue to push forward, demanding not only the fall of the junta but the creation of a society where queer people are fully recognized and protected under the law.

As Aung Myo Min, Myanmar’s first openly gay human rights minister, stated: “The Spring Revolution is not only a revolution against dictatorship but also a revolution for recognition and mutual understanding among different parts of our society”¹⁰. This revolution has made one thing clear—LGBTQ+ activists are not just fighting for their community, but for the very soul of their nation.

1. Section 377 of Myanmar’s Penal Code is a colonial-era law that criminalizes same-sex relations, labeling them as “carnal intercourse against the order of nature.” Though the law is rarely enforced strictly, it is often used by authorities to harass, intimidate, and extort LGBTQ+ individuals. This statute remains a tool of oppression against Myanmar’s queer community, amplifying the dangers they already face under the military junta. You can read more about Section 377 in Myanmar’s legal context here. ​ ↩︎
2. https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/myanmars-lgbt-community-between-old-laws-and-enduring-stigma/ ↩︎
3. https://progressivevoicemyanmar.org/2023/07/13/challenges-faced-by-the-lgbtqia-community-in-myanmar/ ↩︎
4. https://www.apcom.org/an-update-from-myanmar-lgbtq-community-since-the-military-take-over/ ↩︎
5. Ibid. ↩︎
6. Ibid. ↩︎
7. https://progressivevoicemyanmar.org/2023/07/09/myanmars-prideful-revolution/ ↩︎
8. https://english.dvb.no/myanmars-lgbtq-resistance-to-military-rule/ ↩︎
9. https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/myanmars-lgbt-community-between-old-laws-and-enduring-stigma/ ↩︎
10. https://progressivevoicemyanmar.org/2023/07/09/myanmars-prideful-revolution/ ↩︎