The UN’s LGBT expert has advocated for a global partnership to end violence

He advocated for unity in his keynote speech at the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) in Bangkok. Vitit Muntarbhorn said: “resolute action is required to stop the violence and discrimination affecting not only LGBT communities but also the human rights defenders working with them… “this goes hand in hand with the… Read more »

Decriminalizing Same Sex Relations In Asia: Socio-Cultural Factors Impeding Legal Reform

Editorial note: (why former British colonies in Asia have resisted calls to decriminalize same sex relation) I. Introduction In 1967, homosexual acts between consenting adults were decriminalized in England and Wales.1 Almost half a century later, however, it remains an offense to engage in same sex acts or same sex relations2 in every former British… Read more »

Asia’s LGBT people migrate to escape violence at home

Bangkok (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Long before Joe Wong surgically removed his breasts and uterus, he was Joleen, who once used an entire roll of brown duct tape to flatten her chest in an effort to look less feminine at her new secondary school in Singapore. A close relative, angered by her clumsy and obvious… Read more »

Asia’s most popular gay parties, after-parties and pillows

From free vodka nights to rooftop infinity pools at skyscraper level, we lead you to most popular gay circuit parties, club nights and hotels from Bangkok to Taipei Travel Gay Asia shows us the hottest gay parties, after-parties and pillows in the region. Photo by: Richard Frost. If you want disco balls and flashing lights… Read more »

Wealth management firm estimates LGBTs have $800 billion spending power in Asia

A new wealth management firm targeted at LGBT investors believes that LGBT consumers in Asia have $800 billion a year in spending power and are 200 million strong A new wealth management firm targeted at LGBT investors in Asia estimates that LGBT consumers across the region have a combined annual spending power of nearly a… Read more »

Legal protections against HIV-related human rights violations: Experiences and lessons learned from national HIV laws in Asia and the Pacific

Increasingly, countries in the Asia-Pacific region have put in place HIV laws to provide legal protections for people living with HIV. In a follow-up to the report of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law, Legal Protections against HIV-related Human Rights Violations: Experiences and Lessons Learned from National HIV Laws in Asia and the… Read more »

The GayGlobe

In the last two years, three internet surveys in Europe, the USA and Asia asked over 200,000 gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM) about sex, safety and stigma. Gus Cairns looks at some of the data, and finds a mix of the expected and unexpected and some challenging findings for… Read more »

The ASEAN declaration – Good news or bad news?

We now know what the draft ASEAN Human Rights Declaration will say. Is it good news or bad news for LGBTI? Douglas Sanders looks at the issues. First the bad news. We are not named. In the anti-discrimination provisions there is no reference to “sexual orientation” or “gender identity” or “gender expression.” Perhaps we don’t… Read more »

New Regional Community Youth Leader And Policy Briefing Paper Announced

(Bangkok)   The Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM) has been a leader in mobilising attention and action to promote the health and human rights of men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people since 2007. Today, APCOM reaffirms its commitment to working with young MSM and transgender people by supporting… Read more »

Homoerotic traditions in pre-modern Asian & Pacific Island societies

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer identities are commonly thought of as relatively recent, western, social constructs… but what do we know about non-heteronormative expressions of sexuality in historical Chinese, Korean, South Asian and Southeast Asian cultures? There is a very wide misconception that ‘lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender’ (LGBT) constitutes a purely modern phenomenon… Read more »

Hillary Clinton talks about promoting equality around the world

US Secretary of State says in parts of Africa and Asia, gay rights is ‘just a totally foreign concept Hillary Clinton has faced many challenges during her time as US Secretary of State and one of the biggest has been trying to promote LGBT equality around the world. Clinton said during an appearance at Syracuse… Read more »

Hon. Michael Kirby Calls for Decriminalization of Homosexuality in Asia Pacific

Retired Australian High Court judge Michael Kirby has called on Asian and Pacific nations to decriminalise homosexuality. Mr Kirby told Radio Australia’s Asia Pacific program that in 41 of 54 Commonwealth nations, laws against homosexuals are still “steadfastly in force… They [the laws] isolate people, stigmatise them, and make them second-class citizens,” he said. Mr… Read more »

Gay Asia News & Reports (All Asia) 2011

1 Global Commission Reviews Legal Barriers Obstructing Progress on AIDS 2/11 2 Top 10 Key Global Policy Developments Concerning MSM & HIV 2/11 3 HIV programs can only be truly effective if…3/11 4 Asia-Pacific Regional Dialogue 3/11 4a In Southeast Asia, no longer silence on LGBT issues 5/11 5 The Courage Unfolds Campaign 5/11 6… Read more »

Gay Asia News & Reports (All Asia) 2009-10

New book 2007: Gay Travels in the Muslim World, Edited by Michael Luongo (ch. 10 by GlobalGayz owner Richard Ammon) (book review: Gay City News ) Website for America/Canadian Asians: Generasians Together 1 Gay sex "fuelling" HIV infections in Asia warns UNAIDS and WHO 2/09 2 Asian Health Officials Warn HIV Cases Will Increase 2/09… Read more »

Gay Asia News & Reports (All Asia) 2006-08

New book 2007: Gay Travels in the Muslim World, Edited by Michael Luongo (ch. 10 by GlobalGayz owner Richard Ammon) (book review: Gay City News ) Website for America/Canadian Asians: Generasians Together 1 Utopia guide books:    China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea & Taiwan 2 Landmark Guide to… Read more »

Central Asia Essays on Sexuality Issues

From:Himal South Asian Magazine http://himalmag.com/ "The matter of identity: Does identity matter" The discussion of sexual desire as sexual ‘identity’ in LGBT intellectual and activist circles in Pakistan is something that is argued with rather than argued about. http://himalmag.com/2008/march/cover_gay_identity_matter.htm " Class, conservatism, and sexuality" To gain an understanding of alternative sexualities in modern-day Pakistan, most… Read more »