Witness the courage and contributions of LGBTQIA+ individuals in Asia and the Pacific striving to create equitable spaces for other causes
In many parts of Southeast Asia and the Pacific, civic spaces for individuals with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, expression, and sexual characteristics (SOGIESC) are heavily restricted. These limitations arise from colonial-era laws, religious traditions, and deeply ingrained socio-cultural norms rooted in patriarchy and heteronormativity. Despite these challenges, LGBTQIA+ individuals continue to make significant contributions to civil society, often extending beyond the sphere of LGBTQIA+ rights advocacy. However, their efforts largely remain invisible, leaving their needs unmet and their safety at risk.
What motivates them to engage in these fields? What unique perspectives and strengths do they bring? How do they navigate these often non-inclusive spaces, and what do they seek from civil society to ensure their safety and inclusion?
Through the project, Shimmering Lights in Shadows: Queer Activists in Non-Queer Spaces, Innovation for Change – East Asia explores the experiences of queer activists working in areas such as climate justice, workers rights, youth mobilisation, democracy, abolishment of death penalty, minority rights, among others, across Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and Fiji. This initiative employs in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and social media memes to amplify their voices, celebrate their contributions, and advocate for more inclusive civil society practices. By shedding light on their stories and establishing a baseline understanding of their experiences, the project aims to empower civil society to become more equitable, fostering safer and more supportive environments for all.
Supported by the Australian Government and Kaleidoscope Trust, this initiative aligns with Innovation for Change – East Asia’s mission to amplify marginalised voices, build solidarity, and strengthen civil society across the region.
Synthesis Report
The Synthesis Report draws attention to the key points raised in the four country reports — highlighting each focus country’s social and political contexts that inform and shape the queer activists’ lived experiences. Similarities are identified in terms of the queer activists’ motivations in committing to civil society work or in developing interests and passions towards dismantling oppressive systems and practices that pose barriers to the pursuit of social justice. Differences in perspectives in terms of how queer activists contribute to civil society work — whether the work speaks for itself regardless of identities or the queer identities have agency in contextualising and making the contributions bear more meaning and purpose — are, likewise, explored.
The Synthesis Report Writer puts the spotlight on visibility as a fundamental contribution — for the queer activists choosing visibility despite risks, their queer community that may find inspiration, as well as the communities served.
“When queer activists feel safe and empowered to openly carry out the work or live out their passions through their advocacies, they become visible doing the good that they do. Visibility becomes a signal to other silenced or marginalised queer individuals and communities to bring their full selves to work or to wherever they need to be, to do as they pursue.”
Shimmering Lights in Shadows is indicative of the strength and aspirations of queer activists working in often repressive environments. And this Synthesis Report both focuses on and draws from their light — shining as beacons of hope in the march towards a safer, kinder, more accepting, intentional, inclusive, rights-respecting, and rights-promoting future.
The Country Reports
Shimmering Lights in Shadows: Queer Activists in Non-Queer Spaces explores the lived experiences of 47 LGBTQIA+ individuals involved in civil society organisations across Brunei, Fiji, Malaysia, and Singapore. The four country reports and synthesis report illuminate the systemic challenges these activists encounter, from navigating restrictive legal frameworks to overcoming exclusionary workplace cultures.
Through personal narratives, the reports emphasise the resilience, courage, and contributions of LGBTQIA+ individuals striving to create inclusive and equitable spaces. These reports also capture their strategies for survival, their solidarity in the face of adversity, and their unwavering commitment to social justice.
The Unwavering Rainbow Warriors of Malaysia: A Report on LGBTQIA+ Activism in Civil Society
The Unwavering Rainbow Warriors of Malaysia, authored by Pang Khee Teik, explores the resilience, contributions, and struggles of queer activists within Malaysian civil society. Amidst repressive laws, systemic discrimination, and cultural barriers, these rainbow warriors navigate complex terrains to support marginalised communities, advocate for intersectional rights, and foster inclusive spaces.
Based on interviews and focus group discussions with 11 queer activists, the report illuminates their motivations, innovative strategies, and the challenges they face in balancing personal risks with organisational goals. From tackling climate justice and rural development to advancing women’s rights and supporting queer refugees, these activists embody the spirit of intersectional advocacy and transformative leadership.
The report stands as a compelling tribute to the courage of Malaysia’s LGBTQIA+ community and provides recommendations for civil society to foster safer, more inclusive environments.
Navigaytion: Singaporean Queer Activists Shaping Civil Society
Navigaytion: Singaporean Queer Activists Paving Alternative Pathways for Civil Society, authored by Pang Khee Teik, delves into the unique contributions and challenges faced by Singaporean queer activists working or volunteering beyond SOGIESC (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics) rights.
Amidst Singapore’s tightly regulated civic space and the backdrop of the historic repeal of Section 377A, these activists bring intersectional perspectives to broader issues such as migrant workers' rights, labour advocacy, women’s autonomy, and freedom of expression. Drawing from interviews and focus groups with 11 diverse participants, the report highlights their motivations, the empathy and creativity they bring to their work, and the strategic navigation required to advocate for change in a complex socio-political landscape.
Navigaytion is a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of Singapore’s queer activists, offering recommendations for fostering solidarity, creating inclusive spaces, and advancing collective action across movements.
Partial Visibility: Navigating Queer Identity and Advocacy in Brunei
Partial Visibility: The Complex Realities of Queer Lives within Brunei’s Civil Society by Kuro Roi analyses the nuanced experiences of LGBTQIA+ individuals navigating Brunei's restrictive socio-political and legal landscape. Set against the backdrop of deeply entrenched Islamic values and the implementation of the Sharia Penal Code, the report provides insights into how queer individuals balance their identities while contributing to advocacy efforts in areas such as youth empowerment, environmental conservation, and sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Through interviews and focus groups with 13 participants, the report uncovers barriers such as the lack of formal protections, the pervasive need for code-switching, and the mental toll of navigating identity suppression. Despite these challenges, it highlights moments of solidarity, grassroots efforts, and the role of allies in fostering safe spaces and pushing for incremental change.
The report emphasises the importance of mentorship and capacity-building to support queer advocates in Brunei while highlighting the need for context-sensitive approaches to collaboration. It advocates for nuanced approaches to allyship, fostering inclusivity, and reshaping cultural perceptions of LGBTQIA+ identities within the country's unique socio-political framework.
Fiji’s Queer Activists: Navigating Identity and Allyship in Civil Society
Fiji’s Queer Activists in Search of True Allies, authored by Jasbant Kaur and edited by Innovation for Change – East Asia, explores the contributions, challenges, and aspirations of Fiji’s LGBTQIA+ activists working within non-queer civil society organisations (CSOs). Despite constitutional protections and progressive policies, queer activists navigate a complex socio-political landscape shaped by cultural, religious, and economic factors.
Based on interviews and focus groups with 12 diverse participants, the report highlights their motivations, the impact of intersectionality, and the unique perspectives they bring to gender-sensitive programming. It also illuminates issues such as self-censorship, burnout, and workplace discrimination, alongside strategies for fostering allyship and creating safer, more inclusive spaces within Fiji’s CSO sector.
The report offers recommendations, including improved implementation of gender policies, intentional intersectionality, and capacity-building initiatives, while advocating for meaningful dialogues to transform allyship into genuine support for Fiji’s LGBTQIA+ communities.
