- Eleven Media
- Published on Tuesday, 04 March 2014 14:17
YANGON - Police are
investigating a marriage ceremony held between two gay lovers on March 2
after daily newspapers reported the event leading to widespread
criticism.
Local dailies The Voice, 7 Day and
Democracy Today reported the first public gay marriage ceremony between
Myo Min Htet and Tin Ko Ko held on Sunday at the Excel Hotel in Yangon.
Police are currently investigating whether they broke a law on same-sex
intercourse that can carry up to life in prison.
"Our police force will investigate the
wedding reception that was held at the Excel Hotel in Yangon. If it's
against the Section 377, we will take legal actions," lieutenant Myint
Lwin San from Bahan Police Department told Eleven Media.
The event attracted public criticism,
questioning if Myanmar allows same-sex marriages or whether the couple
had broken Section 377 of the Penal Code that states:
"Anyone who has sexual intercourse with a
male or female or animal abnormally shall be given a life sentence or a
sentence of 10 years in prison or a fine or both.”
Myo Min Htet and Tin Ko Ko have been
together for 10 years and celebrated their anniversary by getting
married in a public ceremony with friends and relatives. Both work with
separate local community-based organisations for Lesbian Gay Bisexual
and Transgender (LGBT) rights and healthcare.
This was the first public gay marriage
in Myanmar and the couple originally kept the location secret for fear
that protestors might interrupt the ceremony.
“I am happy I can make a difference that
other people in our community have never done before,” Tin Ko Ko was
quoted as saying by the Myanmar Times.
Criticism of the wedding abounded on
social media as well as religious organisations, with many calling the
ceremony unlawful and against Buddhism.
"Our Buddhism doesn’t allow it. It's not
appropriate naturally. We [Buddhist monks] also do not agree with it.
We will not support any misconduct that is against the democratic
system. It's also against the Buddha teaching. It's not appropriate…We
should outlaw it extensively," said U Pamoukka, presiding abbot of the
Magway Monastery.
Some Facebook users said the event was a shameful and unacceptable thing for Myanmar.
“I think it's not appropriate to report
it as an important issue on front pages. I want to ask them if they
support such an illegal act. [The ceremony] is like an assault to our
Myanmar community," commented Nari Min on a Facebook discussion.
Only 15 countries in the world
officially allow same-sex marriage, but no country in Asia, besides
Israel, has yet to support it by law.
Myanmar has 19 organisations that
support LGBT rights. Aung Myo Min, director of HREIB, a local
organisation that works for gay rights, said that the marriage was not
an official marriage but a ceremony among friends to celebrate their
relationship.
"They only made the ceremony to show
they have been loyal to each other for 10 years among their friends. Our
country doesn’t allow same-sex marriage. They explained that their
marriage is not in accord with the law," said Aung Myo Min.
Myo Min Htet and Tin Ko Ko were unavailable to comment.
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