Current Version
| Region | Myanmar |
| Issue | Censorship of LGBT issues |
| Status | State-enforced |
| Start Date | Mar 19, 1946 |
| End Date | (none) |
| Description | The Police Act of 1945 contains Section 35(c) which criminalises people covering their faces or otherwise disguising themselves between sunset and sunrise “who are unable to give a satisfactory account of himself”. This law has been used arbitrarily to target transgender people in Myanmar for their gender expression. Additionally, LGBTIQ+ websites have been blocked in 2012. Since the 2021 coup, the government has been using the guise of anti terrorism laws to arrest LGBT activists and peaceful protesters. |
| Sources | https://outrightinternational.org/insights/2021-myanmar-crisis-implications-lgbtq-people https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/burma/ https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/myanmar/ https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/killing-creativity-the-juntas-cultural-crusade/ http://opennet.net/blog/2012/10/update-information-controls-burma https://web.archive.org/web/20180827142436/https://www.mmtimes.com/lifestyle/26228-prejudice-and-progress-a-snapshot-of-lgbt-rights-in-myanmar.html https://myanmar-law-library.org/IMG/pdf/the_police_act_1945.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20190730234741/https://www.mmtimes.com/lifestyle/26230-abused-arrested-not-giving-up-transgender-activist-fights-for-equality.html |
Revision History (7)
edited by DaisyGeekyTrans. Goes back even further due to an interpretation of the Police Act being used against trans people.
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value (Current) | |
|---|---|---|
| Start Date | 2012 | Mar 19, 1946 |
| Description | LGBTIQ+ websites have been blocked in 2012. Since the 2021 coup, the government has been using the guise of anti terrorism laws to arrest LGBT activists and peaceful protesters. | The Police Act of 1945 contains Section 35(c) which criminalises people covering their faces or otherwise disguising themselves between sunset and sunrise “who are unable to give a satisfactory account of himself”. This law has been used arbitrarily to target transgender people in Myanmar for their gender expression. Additionally, LGBTIQ+ websites have been blocked in 2012. Since the 2021 coup, the government has been using the guise of anti terrorism laws to arrest LGBT activists and peaceful protesters. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | https://outrightinternational.org/insights/2021-myanmar-crisis-implications-lgbtq-people https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/burma/ https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/myanmar/ https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/killing-creativity-the-juntas-cultural-crusade/ http://opennet.net/blog/2012/10/update-information-controls-burma | https://outrightinternational.org/insights/2021-myanmar-crisis-implications-lgbtq-people https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/burma/ https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/myanmar/ https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/killing-creativity-the-juntas-cultural-crusade/ http://opennet.net/blog/2012/10/update-information-controls-burma https://web.archive.org/web/20180827142436/https://www.mmtimes.com/lifestyle/26228-prejudice-and-progress-a-snapshot-of-lgbt-rights-in-myanmar.html https://myanmar-law-library.org/IMG/pdf/the_police_act_1945.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20190730234741/https://www.mmtimes.com/lifestyle/26230-abused-arrested-not-giving-up-transgender-activist-fights-for-equality.html |
Show Difference | ||
edited by DaisyGeekyTrans. Censorship was further back and the coup took place in 2021.
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Start Date | Jan 2020 | 2012 |
| Description | Since the 2020 coup, the government has been using the guise of anti terrorism laws to arrest LGBT activists and peaceful protesters. | LGBTIQ+ websites have been blocked in 2012. Since the 2021 coup, the government has been using the guise of anti terrorism laws to arrest LGBT activists and peaceful protesters. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | https://outrightinternational.org/insights/2021-myanmar-crisis-implications-lgbtq-people https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/burma/ https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/myanmar/ https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/killing-creativity-the-juntas-cultural-crusade/ | https://outrightinternational.org/insights/2021-myanmar-crisis-implications-lgbtq-people https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/burma/ https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/myanmar/ https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/killing-creativity-the-juntas-cultural-crusade/ http://opennet.net/blog/2012/10/update-information-controls-burma |
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edited by jadeywadey. federal law not needed anymore, all subregions inherit.
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Law | Yes | No |
edited by DaisyGeekyTrans. Adding another source.
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Sources | https://outrightinternational.org/insights/2021-myanmar-crisis-implications-lgbtq-people https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/burma/ https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/myanmar/ | https://outrightinternational.org/insights/2021-myanmar-crisis-implications-lgbtq-people https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/burma/ https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/myanmar/ https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/killing-creativity-the-juntas-cultural-crusade/ |
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edited by jadeywadey. set as federal law
Helpful?
1 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Start Date | Nov 2020 | Jan 2020 |
| Federal Law | No | Yes |
Reports (1)
- All information is correct, just adding sources "The Junta has also been tightening censorship by banning books with LGBT themes over "obscene content" and revoking the licenses of the publishers.
https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/killing-creativity-the-juntas-cultural-crusade/ "
edited by jadeywadey. bad entry
Helpful?
1 | Old Value (Original) | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | No censorship | State-enforced |
| Start Date | (unknown) | Nov 2020 |
| Description | In Myanmar, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics. | Since the 2020 coup, the government has been using the guise of anti terrorism laws to arrest LGBT activists and peaceful protesters. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | https://outrightinternational.org/insights/2021-myanmar-crisis-implications-lgbtq-people https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/burma/ https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/myanmar/ | |
| Original entry | |
|---|---|
| Status | No censorship |
| Start Date | (unknown) |
| End Date | (none) |
| Description | In Myanmar, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics. |
| Sources | (empty) |
Reports (3)
- Newer law has been passed "In January 2025, the military junta banned seven books with LGBT themes on the grounds that they were "obscene and socially unacceptable".
https://www.rfa.org/english/myanmar/2025/01/10/lgbt-books-banned/"
- Status is not correct "Since the military coup, several LGBT activists have been arrested and charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act. "
- Status is not correct "Myanmar sentenced a LGBTQ activist to 10 years in prison, but it is unknown if there is regular censorship of LGBT issues."