Gavin Chow was crowned Mr Bear International 2026 in Bangkok, highlighting the contrasting conditions for queer life. The article contrasts his victory in Thailand's queer festival circuit with the situation in Malaysia, where same-sex intimacy is criminalized.

On Monday afternoon, amid the heat and chaos of Thailand’s Songkran festival, Gavin Chow was crowned Mr Bear International 2026 – the first Malaysian to win the title at a pageant that has quickly become part of Thailand’s growing queer festival circuit. Back in Chow’s home country, the climate is very different. Malaysia criminalises same-sex intimacy under federal law, LGBTQ gatherings have faced police raids and the 34-year-old activist’s own national qualifier earlier this year struggled to....