Queer Burmese Living on Thai Border

For the photography series: see video above.

When Myanmar’s military staged a coup in 2021, many people fled across the border into Thailand. Among them were Burmese LGBTIQ+ people, a community already marginalized at home and further endangered by the junta’s violence.

Life in exile is not simple. Many face rejection from their families, discrimination in society and harmful stereotypes reinforced by Burmese movies. On top of this, they carry the weight of traditional beliefs—the idea, passed down through generations—that being LGBTIQ+ is against nature and shameful. While attitudes are slowly changing, these conservative views continue to shape much of public opinion.

This project documents the lives of Burmese LGBTIQ+ people now living in Mae Sot, Thailand. Beyond survival, it seeks to show how they live with dignity and beauty, as ordinary people striving to be accepted for who they are.

Exposure of this photography series

This photography series has yet to be exhibited (as of November 2025).

Its publication in this DOHN Magazine marks its debut, giving visibility to queer Burmese communities living along the Thai–Myanmar border. It will provide the first opportunity for wider audiences to engage with the series and the experiences it documents.