Sudestasiatico.com

Gays inside Burma cannot speak out for their rights, but this is not a problem here in Chiang Mai, Thailand, said Aung Myo Min, a leading Burmese gay activist, on Friday at a regional gay-lesbian conference. “Gays are part of society,” he stressed.

“Gays are part of society”-Aung Myo Min, head of Human Rights Education Institute of Burma (HREIB).

Aung Myo Min was one of the main speakers at the third Asian conference of the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA), which is being held in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, from January 24 to 27.

About 160 gay and lesbian activists and observers from 12 countries in the region attended the conference in Chiang Mai.

According to the ILGA website, the conference was held to bring together “LGBT” (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) activists from all parts of Asia-to discuss issues facing sexual minorities in the region. The slogan of the conference is “Equality in Diversity Now!”

The ILGA said that the conference reflected the diversity of the cultures LGBT persons live in, as they struggle against discrimination, and in some countries, criminalization.

“I explained about Discrimination Act 377 against gays in Burma,” said Aung Myo Min. “According to this law, any same-sex act in Burma is ‘unnatural’ and therefore a crime.” “Unnatural” sex acts in Burma can be punished by up to seven years imprisonment. Although several Asian countries have discriminatory laws against homosexuality, other countries-such as Nepal and Thailand-have instigated laws deterring discrimination against LGBT persons, he said.

Discrimination against gays and lesbians is traditionally rooted in our societies,” said the activist. “If a boy behaves like a girl, people tell him he’s gay. He gets scolded by his elders. In Burma, people do not dare to admit openly that they are gay.” He also warned that unsafe sex practices among Burmese gays have the potential to spread the HIV/AIDS virus in the country. Same-sex relations are underground in Burma, because the society does not tolerance homosexuality. Burmese gays use public parks and public toilets as meeting places for sex, said Aung Myo Min, who is head of Human Rights Education Institute of Burma (HREIB), based in Chiang Mai.

Referring to several publicized cases of molestation involving gay predators, Aung Myo Min emphasized that gay people must maintain their ethics and principles. “Gays must not sexually abuse or harass people. Any sexual act by force is rape,” he said.