ASEAN SOGIE Caucus
Inclusive and diverse ASEAN
ASEAN SOGIE Caucus
Inclusive and diverse ASEAN
Inclusive and diverse ASEAN
Inclusive and diverse ASEAN
To all Southeast Asian LGBTIQ advocates:
ASEAN SOGIE Caucus, with support from the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights (RFSL) is organizing its second ASEAN Queer Leadership Week in Bangkok, Thailand from 10 June 2019 to 14 June 2019. This program – the first of its kind to be organized by and for Southeast Asian activists – will bring together participants to an intensive one-week program where they will learn, discuss, and practice core concepts and skills in leadership in advocacy within the LGBTIQ movement in the Southeast Asian region.
Delegates from last month’s groundbreaking conference in Bangkok on improving the inclusion of LGBTIQ people in the Asia Pacific response to conflicts and natural disasters have issued a call to action for the region’s humanitarian sector.
The Pride In The Humanitarian System conference was produced by a range of Asia Pacific HIV and LGBTIQ community networks as well as various international agencies, and the organising coalition this week released the final call to action which was developed by delegates during the conference.
Timor Leste’s well respected LGBT activist, Bella Galhos, wrote an open letter addressed to her country’s Prime Minister, urging his government to undertake “proper measures to protect, to be impartial with everyone without discrimination”. Bella further lamented how the situation of LGBT persons in her country remains problematic; many still face violence, sexual abuse and even denial of social services.
Her letter further emphasized how vital is social inclusion of LGBT persons towards nation building. According to her, “no country is able to reach their full potential, without giving the importance to its people, particularly vulnerable groups to participate in the process of development… [t]o isolate some group[s] of people is to negatively affect their lives, and resulting in a fragile nation that is without resources, without opportunities, life under constant discrimination, violence and ignorance.”
The full text of her open letter can be read below.
Destination Justice, a key human rights organization in the region, released it recent report titled “Revealing the Rainbow: The human rights situation of Southeast Asia’s LGBTIQ communities and their defenders”. This report, which covers eleven countries in the region, narrates the strategies done by LGBTIQ human rights defenders in engaging the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). It provides baseline information on LGBTIQ related recommendations generated from the UPR.
ASEAN SOGIE Caucus will be joining the rest of the world in celebration of this year’s International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (#IDAHOTB) this coming May 17. To prepare for the celebration, please join us this year for our #HugsNotHate action!
Many LGBTIQ people in the region continue to live in places where fear is a persistent and dangerous reality, and many continue to experience a deep sense of loneliness and separation from others. Hugging is one of the purest expressions of love and friendship, and we know from the scientific research that hugs such a strong impact on a person’s heart and health. Hugs are simple, straightforward, and wonderfully powerful, and we want you to help us spread this message. Stop hate! Let’s hug!
From 16-19 April 2018, ASEAN SOGIE Caucus together with Arus Pelangi and Human Rights Working Group organized the second year of the ASEAN Advocacy Week in Jakarta City, Indonesia. The objective was to gather LGBTIQ activists from across Southeast Asia to discuss emerging issues in advocacy across the region and to engage with both media practitioners and diplomats on how to best address these new challenges. The ASEAN Advocacy Week aimed to enhance activists' capacities to do advocacy work around issues of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC).
We at ASEAN SOGIE Caucus send all our love to Hatutan Youth and all our friends and colleagues in Timor-Leste for the successful launch of their documentary family acceptance of LGBTI persons last 5 April 2018.
The situation of LGBT people in Indonesia escalated to a dangerous point, with increased persecution expected to come as the country approaches the elections. As part of our ongoing response, ASEAN SOGIE Caucus has produced this fact sheet on Escalating violence based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression (SOGIE) in Indonesia. It provides an overview of the situation faced by LGBT persons in the country amidst increasing violence and hate perpetrated both by state and non-state actors. Through this fact sheet, we hope to encourage fellow human rights defenders, peace advocates and humanitarian agencies in developing of advocacy plans and crisis response during this critical moment for the human rights of LGBT people in Indonesia.
Download: 20180212-Fact-Sheet-Indonesia-Final.pdf
Inclusive and diverse ASEAN
Legally Registered in the Philippines as Southeast Asia Sexual Orientation,
Gender Identity and Expression Caucus (ASC), Inc. The organization is in
Special Consultative Status with the UN ECOSOC since 2021.
Quezon City, Philippines
Email: communications@aseansogiecaucus.org
ASEAN SOGIE Caucus © 2025
