#cambodian

This is an updated version of a story first published on Dec. 17, 2023. The original video can be viewed here.  The theft of Cambodia’s cultural treasures…thousands of sacred stone, bronze and gold artifacts from religious sites across the country… might just be the greatest art heist in history. It began nearly a century ago when Cambodia was colonized by France… but in the 1970s, 80s and 90s…

'Soth Yun (b. 1968) and Sem Eang (b. 1967) are a Cambodian lesbian couple and LGBTQ+ rights activists.

Soth and Sem met around 1975 when the Khmer Rouge regime took control over Cambodia and the two began living in the same mobile unit. From a very young age, Soth would do physically laborious work, and Sem felt deeply for her. They were only 7 and 8 years old when they met and became quickly attached.

Over time, the leader of their unit began to question their relationship and had the girls separated. However, this didn't stop the girls from seeing one another.

In 1979, Sem's family declared they were planning to force her to marry. Soth left to allow her to lead a happy life. Soon after, Sem became very ill and no doctor could cure her. Desperate, Sem's family contacted Soth and asked her to come back. And she did. She took care of Sem all on her own and Sem recovered.

Soth then asked Sem's family permission for them to live together. Still, her parents were furious and wouldn't allow it. But Sem left anyway to be with her love.

The couple worked hard to make money that they used to buy food for Sem's family. Eventually, her family began to support the couple being together.

Sem and Soth moved to a village in Takeo province in southern Cambodia. There, they experienced disapproval from their community, many believing two women could not make a life together. Through living their lives openly and honestly, they proved those around them wrong and gained respect from their fellow villagers. The community now has multiple same sex couples.

The pair never had children of their own; however, many of Sem's siblings sent their kids to the couple to raise them. And when those children grew up, they sent their own.

In 2012, the women starred in a short documentary called Two Girls Against the Rain by director Sopheak Sao. In it, they talked about their struggles living as an openly lesbian couple in their village, their deep love for one another, and their desire to legally marry.