LGBTQ+ RIGHTS. Swe Zin Htet of Myanmar confirms that she is a lesbian in an interview with pageant website Missosology. Photo courtesy of the Miss Universe Organization
MANILA, Philippines – In all the excitement surrounding this year's Miss Universe pageant, there are a handful of candidates who are only making waves now for reasons that go beyond their performances at the yearly beauty pageant. Meet Swe Zin Htet, Myanmar's representative to the Miss Universe 2019 pageant, who also happens to be an out and proud lesbian.she talked about speaking up for the LGBTQ+ community and advocating for their rights, despite – and especially because of – the situation in her home country Myanmar.
"I believe that not all countries allow same-sex marriage. I want the world to accept the LGBTQ+ community and their right to choose their own path and pursuit of happiness. Love is the most powerful thing and people fall in love with human beings, not gender. We should always have the freedom of choice and promote equality," she said.
Being gay in Myanmar is punishable by law. According to the Myanmar Times report, the country"scores very poorly on international LGBT rights indicators