The relocation of queer artist couple of Myanmar

Help queer artist couple leave Myanmar and relocate to Thailand

May is a theatremaker and a community outreach worker who has been working with grassroot, non-profit organizations since 2009. She also works as a freelance interpreter for journalists.

Shwe has been active as a singer/songwriter since 2018 in a music band with her sister. She played ukulele and composed more than 20 original songs both in Burmese language and in English.

They have been based in Yangon, Myanmar and have been active in local independent art scene. That’s how they met and fell in love! May and Shwe moved in together right before the pandemic in 2020 and were ready to start a new chapter as partners in both art and life.

However, Myanmar's military took power in a coup on February 1, 2021, abruptly halting the country's fragile transition to democracy. Huge crowds took to the streets in the weeks following the coup to protest. The military responded with lethal force and terror, raiding homes and arresting anyone suspected of being pro-democracy. As of September 2022, over 15,500 people had been arrested, with the number continuing to rise. The military has used increasingly brutal force to suppress dissent. While the military has committed atrocities against any and all anti-coup groups, artists, media figures, and young creative folks have been particularly targeted.

Because May and Shwe face very serious threats of being detained simply for believing in freedom of expression and human rights, all of their artistic endeavors must be put on hold. That is why May and Shwe made the decision to leave Myanmar and relocate to the neighboring country of Thailand after almost two years of remaining under the odious dictatorship with no sense of security (in the hope that things may improve and in solidarity with their artist friends who were imprisoned). They intend to move to Chiang Mai, where there is a vibrant exiled artists and activists community from Myanmar.

They have been working any job they can find to save money for a safe and legal relocation to Thailand, but they are still short by roughly USD 3000. They are profoundly appreciative for any donations that will enable them to embark on a new creative journey together in a safe environment and continue their lives as artists.