Burmese actor/model Okkar Min Maung (a.k.a. Ye Htoo Win) has pulled a double-whammy coming out — he’s gay and he has an adorable boyfriend.
He made the big reveal by sharing a kiss with his Israeli partner in a Facebook video.
But while it’s easy to get wrapped up in the cuteness of it all, it’s something of a bold move. While the couple lives in New York, Burma still criminalizes gay sex, and it can carry serious prison time. That’s to say nothing of the cultural stigma that still pervades Burmese society.
As translated by Victor Muang at GayStarNews, the actor wrote in Burmese in the caption of the video: “With regards to my photos going viral online, here is the authentic answer.”
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Online ???? ??????????. ???????????????????? ????????????????… I am who I am, I love who I love. I won't give up.
Posted by Ye Htoo Win on Tuesday, June 26, 2018
In English, he added: “I am who I am, I love who I love. I won’t give up.”
The “viral photos” comment refers to the fact that a friend of Maung recently leaked some private photos of him in bed with his boyfriend.
The photos attracted the attention of Burmese tabloids, and suddenly Maung’s sexuality was a big story.
By posting the video and coming out publicly, he took control over the “scandal.” While many have criticized him, Maung has the opportunity to improve the lives of LGBTQ people living in Burma by defiantly sharing his story.
We’re sure this isn’t how he imagined his coming out would go, but regardless — congrats on speaking your truth.
ingyaom
Adorable!
dean089
It seems like the word “friend” is the word that should be in quotation marks. Maybe instead of acceptance we should be working towards a world where everyone minds their own damn business. That alone would render irrelevant a lot of the other stuff.
James
“Instead of working toward acceptance…..” OH PLEASE, CLOSET CASE MENTALITY IS FOR OPPRESSED PEOPLE. GET A LIFE.
dinard38
@James How about you get a life. Regardless of your opinions about someone being in the closet, no one has the right to out someone who is not ready to come out, possibly because it could put their life in danger. Did you not read the part where Okkar Min Maugham is from Burma, a country that still criminalizes homosexuality. So if he goes home to Burma, he could be in danger, all because a “friend” posted his private pics for all to see.
crazycorgi
This is my life, my choice, I am who I am.
So, all good. Since homosexuality for him is a choice, then I suppose when he goes back to Burma he can choose to be straight. How convenient. Let’s just play into the anti-gay rhetoric that we choose to be gay, and push their narrative for them, by using their words. Being gay for me was never a choice. It wasn’t for any of the other gay people I know either, but good to know it is for him.
JED08
Crazycorgi_I don’t think that’s what he meant. I read it as his choice in how to deal with the reality of being gay. Sexual orientation is never presented to anyone as a choice. It’s determined before you’re born. Since he is living the experience, I’d say he realizes that.
Robothedestroyer
Seriously. He is talking about the choice to be public and himself. I understand your point but take 3 breaths before immediately getting offended dude.
man5996853
I understand why you are hyper-sensitive to any suggestion that being gay is a choice but I think you misinterpreted this young man’s statement.
hithere2
Also maybe cut him some slack given that English is obviously not his first language
hithere2
This was in response to crazycorgi’s response – And yes, give us the equivalent of what he should have said in Burmese and then we can talk.
GaybyGod
This is one brave guy! He and his family could be ostracized back in Burma by the Burmese Taliban. By “CHOOSING” to come out rather than hide, he will hopefully turn the tolerance dial forward in the country and help all other Burmese LGBT people feel what it’s like to be who God intended them to be.
Walker
This is a great, inspirational story about courage and coming out. But it is becoming absolutely embarrassing that Queerty is now incapable of reporting these stories without making it about someone’s looks. If you click on the “coming out” button under this literally the top three stories are about someone being “super cute” or “dreamy” (what is this, Tiger Beat?) Nice to know that if he were just a homely or even average Burmese guy it wouldn’t be worth mentioning. You demean him, and you demean this community.
RexRed
He is a cutie. 🙂
Bob LaBlah
I guess I can coin this phrase “be careful of what you pose for”. lol Were I him I would respond in kind by posting a pic of the queen who decided to out me all over the internet and tell them why she/it did that.
GetReal101
It is not a smart move to out himself so publicly, He has jeopardized his chance of going back to his home country in the future and if he does, he will be arrested and put in jail. What was he really thinking and why was there no one around to advise him?
Bryguyf69
He didn’t out himself. A “friend” leaked photos of the couple in bed. After tabloids got a hold of the photos, :is choices were limited. Either lie (e.g. “We were rehearsing a scene”) or come clean. He chose the latter. Here is the relevant text from the above article. I’m surprised you missed it.
—————–
…The “viral photos” comment refers to the fact that a friend of Maung recently leaked some private photos of him in bed with his boyfriend.
The photos attracted the attention of Burmese tabloids, and suddenly Maung’s sexuality was a big story.
By posting the video and coming out publicly, he took control over the “scandal.”
Kangol
Really brave, though as Bryguyf69 says, his choices were limited since his friend basically outed him. I hope his openness does change minds, particular of legislators, in Myanmar, but I also think he probably should avoid going back to Myanmar anytime soon, that is, until there’s some real change in terms of the laws or a more liberal regime in office. He and his boyfriend do make a cute couple too.
scotty
yes please!
victormaung
Dear David Grant and Editorial team,
This article has contents from the article I wrote for Gay Star News.
https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/burmese-actor-comes-out-gay-kiss-boyfriend/#gs.PDO=wLU
I think it is obvious plagiarism that your article is 90% the same with my original article.
Please give credit my name for that article for all my hard works and research.
Best regards,
LynnPyine
Gay people may not have the legal approval from the government (meaning, they can’t get married legally), but the law is not discriminating them in Myanmar. Yes, section 377 of myanmar law has not been removed yet, but those who practice homosexual acts (as long as both parties are legally mature and consensus), they are never criminalized. There are a few cases of sex abuse (same-sex nature) and the perpetrators are charged with both section 376 (rape) and 377 (unnatural sexual activities), only because it is of the nature of abuse and is reported to the police by the victim.
But, I can’t say the same about the society. It’s considered taboo to be in a same-sex relationship either in Buddhism, Hinduism, Muslim or Christian. The traditions and the cultures of the nation as a whole does not welcome homosexuality.
However, nowadays, more and more people are accepting and becoming more tolerant to homosexuality, bisexuality, transgender, queers and cross-dressers. More and more people are also coming out and living openly (holding hands and hugging in public).
Compared to other countries, we are taking baby steps, but I believe this is going to change for the better in the near future, from not criminalizing (despite the law) to actually legalizing.