<p class="title">A gay Myanmar man posted a note on Facebook including screenshots of alleged homophobic bullying before taking his life, prompting activists to call on Tuesday for more protection for the emerging LGBTQ community.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Same-sex relations are still officially illegal under Myanmar's colonial-era laws, but although LGBTQ people enjoy more freedoms in the country than ever before, rights groups say homophobia and discrimination are entrenched in the socially conservative country.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Kyaw Zin Win took his life after posting a final Facebook message to his family and friends, alongside a plea "not to be reborn" in a country "where superiors oppress those under them".</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 26-year-old librarian at Myanmar Imperial University (MIU), his profile picture black with an insignia of death, detailed how he had been bullied by colleagues.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He alleged his bosses forced him to come out at work and attached screenshots of group message chats appearing to show colleagues mocking him.</p>.<p class="bodytext">By Tuesday, the posts on Facebook which serves as the main mode of communication in a country with low digital literacy had been shared thousands of times, accompanied by hundreds of outraged comments.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Words can kill people... it's murder," wrote Hein Aung Thu.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The university released a statement Monday expressing its deepest sympathy over the "tragic" incident, adding it had visited his family.</p>.<p class="bodytext">It told AFP it was investigating the case.</p>.<p class="bodytext">One colleague, whose name appeared in the final post, issued a denial on Facebook of having played any role in the harassment.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Hla Myat Tun, co-director of the LGBTQ group Colors Rainbow, said workplace bullying in Myanmar was very common and that his organisation receives many messages from young LGBTQ people seeking psychological support.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Rights groups plan to rally later this week in honour of Kyaw Zin Win, and to call for the decriminalisation of homosexuality and introduction of an anti-discrimination bill.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Despite the many challenges, there are signs of a growing acceptance of the community.</p>.<p class="bodytext">For the first time, Yangon authorities granted permission in 2018 for an LGBTQ festival in a public park which attracted some 12,000 people.</p>.<p class="bodytext">This year also saw Myanmar's first "Pride Boat Parade" on the Yangon river although a full march through the streets remains an elusive goal in a country still wary of any protests. </p>
<p class="title">A gay Myanmar man posted a note on Facebook including screenshots of alleged homophobic bullying before taking his life, prompting activists to call on Tuesday for more protection for the emerging LGBTQ community.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Same-sex relations are still officially illegal under Myanmar's colonial-era laws, but although LGBTQ people enjoy more freedoms in the country than ever before, rights groups say homophobia and discrimination are entrenched in the socially conservative country.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Kyaw Zin Win took his life after posting a final Facebook message to his family and friends, alongside a plea "not to be reborn" in a country "where superiors oppress those under them".</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 26-year-old librarian at Myanmar Imperial University (MIU), his profile picture black with an insignia of death, detailed how he had been bullied by colleagues.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He alleged his bosses forced him to come out at work and attached screenshots of group message chats appearing to show colleagues mocking him.</p>.<p class="bodytext">By Tuesday, the posts on Facebook which serves as the main mode of communication in a country with low digital literacy had been shared thousands of times, accompanied by hundreds of outraged comments.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Words can kill people... it's murder," wrote Hein Aung Thu.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The university released a statement Monday expressing its deepest sympathy over the "tragic" incident, adding it had visited his family.</p>.<p class="bodytext">It told AFP it was investigating the case.</p>.<p class="bodytext">One colleague, whose name appeared in the final post, issued a denial on Facebook of having played any role in the harassment.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Hla Myat Tun, co-director of the LGBTQ group Colors Rainbow, said workplace bullying in Myanmar was very common and that his organisation receives many messages from young LGBTQ people seeking psychological support.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Rights groups plan to rally later this week in honour of Kyaw Zin Win, and to call for the decriminalisation of homosexuality and introduction of an anti-discrimination bill.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Despite the many challenges, there are signs of a growing acceptance of the community.</p>.<p class="bodytext">For the first time, Yangon authorities granted permission in 2018 for an LGBTQ festival in a public park which attracted some 12,000 people.</p>.<p class="bodytext">This year also saw Myanmar's first "Pride Boat Parade" on the Yangon river although a full march through the streets remains an elusive goal in a country still wary of any protests. </p>