Bhutan's trailblazing beauty queen speaks up for LGBTQ community
The remote country is famed for its philosophy of"Gross National Happiness", in which it prioritises citizens' well-being on par with economic growth. But up until February 2021, gay sex was defined in the penal code as"sexual conduct against the laws of nature", and branded illegal in the Buddhist country.
It initially prompted a"very strong reaction" from her conservative and religious family members, but Choden said it was important for them to be part of her coming-out process. While she received"some negative reactions" online after she was crowned and chosen to represent Bhutan in Miss Universe, her win appeared to garner support from inside the country and abroad.
It also eschews the global tourism model, instead levying a hefty $200 a day"sustainable development fee" for foreign tourists to enter - a fund used to offset their carbon footprint. "With the decriminalisation... I feel more comfortable in public than before," Galley told AFP."I like putting on make-up and going out, and it's not a normal thing for a guy to come out with make-up."Several transgender women have had their names and gender changed on their citizenship identity cards and the LGBTQ community is slowly becoming more visible.
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