LGBTI Youth for Inclusive Development
15 LGBTI Youth Who are Changing Our World for the Better
19 April 2017
The Being LGBTI in Asia programme actively engages young LGBTI people in its efforts to address inequality, violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status, and promote universal access to health and social services. The programme has benefited tremendously from the contributions made by young LGBTI individuals, whom have offered fresh perspectives, led innovative approaches and offered insight into the diverse experiences of LGBTI people, ensuring that their voices are heard. As part of our commitment to ensuring inclusion and supporting participation and capacity development of young people from the LGBTI community, we are following the progress of those who have worked or volunteered with Being LGBTI in Asia. For many, the platform has helped to propel them forward in their personal and professional journeys. Below are short ‘where are they now’ stories and testimonials of 15 young LGBTI professionals to watch out for.
Saurav Jung Thapa
Nepal
“Serving as the Technical Officer for Being LGBTI in Asia was a tremendously rewarding opportunity that brought together my personal interest in LGBTQ equality with my advanced academic training in international affairs and law. Although my time with the programme was relatively short, it was incredibly productive. I learned so much about the many challenges faced for those working to advance LGBTQ equality in Asia. But also that the passion and drive of the many inspiring activists in the region will be the key to pushing forward. I look forward to continue being part of that movement!”
In 2015, Saurav joined Human Right Campaign (HRC) and currently manages its international research portfolio which includes reports, a quarterly newsletter, country briefings, the ‘Export of Hate’ project, blog posts and other knowledge products that have established HRC as a thought leader in the global LGBTQ rights space. In 2015, Saurav married his partner Sam, a law professor in Washington, D.C.
Saurav’s HRC blog posts can be viewed here and other research products, including the Global Spotlight research articles, can be accessed here.
Zhou Li
Australia/China
“It was an incredible experience to be part of the foundation of the first UN regional LGBTI rights programme in Asia. Working within the UN System helped me to understand where opportunities exist to truly have an impact on people’s lives. Having worked with such dedicated LGBTI activists continues to give me hope that situations can continue to improve for the better.”
At ESCAP’s office in Inchon, Li Zhou is currently working on integrating new technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence to better capture and analyze information in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. During his time at ESCAP, he plans to explore the way these new technologies can be deployed to ensure that “no one is left behind” and how he can ensure that these technologies are effectively utilized.
After leaving UNDP, Li Zhou went on to pursue his Masters of Public Administration at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at Columbia University in 2015.
Mana Khaeng
Cambodia
“Serving as a UN Volunteer LGBTI and Human Rights Officer for Being LGBTI in Asia was one of the most valuable and esteemed moments in my career. It was an incredible privilege to be a part of progressive change and development leading to more open ‘hearts and minds’ in my country and among my colleagues.”
Mana is currently the National Coordination Officer with Partners for Prevention for UNFPA Cambodia. Her key responsibility is to coordinate and implement the regional joint programme for the prevention of violence against women and girls by engaging young adolescents and their caregivers. The programme aims to change social norms and gender inequitable attitudes though participatory community sessions and volunteerism.
After Mana’s assignment with OHCHR for Being LGBTI in Asia, she pursued a Master’s degree in International Studies at the University of San Francisco, graduating in 2015. Mana also completed an internship as Volunteer Coordinator at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) assisting in the economic empowerment of newly arrived refugees in the San Francisco Bay Area whose lives and livelihoods were shattered by conflict and disasters.
Xu Wenxu
China
“My time with Being LGBT in Asia was a once in a lifetime experience. I learned to engage with communities and promote civic engagement and was lucky to have met so many inspiring leaders.”
After UNDP, Wenxu joined the California Department of Rehabilitation, where he is assisting people with disabilities to achieve economic self-efficiency. He continues to engage in LGBTI and human rights work as a subcommittee member of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission as well as the San Francisco Re-entry Council. Wenxu is also currently pursuing a graduate degree in Public Administration at San Francisco State University. He and his husband Andy were married in 2014.
Liao Aiwan
China
“While with UNDP, I learned how to write emails in English without being scared, as initially I always felt awkward when communicating with others. My UNV experience also inspired me as I realised that it is possible to be calm facing the great contrast between grassroots and elite worlds, since I’ve come to see that beyond these matters of formality, what makes a difference is how genuinely you want to help people.”
Aiwan is currently a freelance translator and is coordinating a volunteer group named Young Tree for the empowerment of female-assigned transgender and gender non-conforming people across China. While with UNDP, Aiwan designed the groundbreaking China LGBT social attitudes study with Beijing University. The study was published in 2016 and garnered over 30,000 respondents from all 31 provinces and autonomous regions in China.
Kevin Halim
Indonesia
“Through my work with Being LGBTI in Asia in Indonesia, I learned about the multiple barriers faced by LGBTI people, but also about their many hopes and the work they do to achieve them. Most of the challenges faced by LGBTI people are a result of stigma and lack of awareness, therefore through dialogue and engagement that emphasizes the common humanity of LGBTI people and the universality of human rights we can create a better future that fosters respect for diversity.”
Kevin is currently the regional Programme Officer with the HIVOS Regional Office of South East Asia (HIVOS ROSEA). She is responsible for supporting the extension the ISEAN/HIVOS Multi-country Global Fund HIV Programme and is the regional programmer’s Officer-In-Charge for CODIVA programme in Timor-Leste.
After leaving UNDP, Kevin joined the Asia Pacific Transgender Network (APTN) in 2014–2016, where she supported national transgender organizations in six countries to strengthen their advocacy and resource mobilization efforts under the Robert Carr Fund.
Jensen Byrne
Ireland
“My time as a UNV and now as a Project Officer with the programme has given me an incredible opportunity …and the chance to be part of something important… it has solidified my desire to work in the field of human rights and development. I continue to learn about interpersonal and cross-cultural communication as well as gaining a deep understanding of the human rights issues affecting LGBTI people across the Asia-Pacific region. I also became a part of a team that I care deeply about. I will carry the things my teammates taught me here with me throughout my life.”
After joining UNDP as an international UN Youth Volunteer in 2015, Jensen has continued their work with the UNDP regional programme as the LGBTI and Human Rights Project Officer for Being LGBTI in Asia. Their primary role is to provide technical support and inputs to the programme focusing on human rights; sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex issues; transgender human rights and legal gender recognition; civil society and community systems strengthening. In particular, they assist in the programme’s research related activities, communication and knowledge management and coordinating the implementation of regional level work including acting as focal point for activities done in partnership with the ASEAN SOGIE Caucus and Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions.
In addition to supporting LGBTI and human rights in Asia, Jensen was elected to the Executive Board of the International Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Organisation (IGLYO) for 2016. This is an umbrella organisation representing over 90 LGBTQI youth and student organisations across the Council of Europe states (47 members).
Bharat Man Shrestha
Nepal
“Working as UN Volunteer LGBTI and Human Rights Officer for the Being LGBTI in Asia programme in Nepal was an incredible opportunity that helped me to grow professionally and personally. I feel that I was able to have a positive impact on the human rights and well-being of LGBTI people in my country. Furthermore, I was also able to widen my network with LGBTI advocates and allies in Nepal and the Asia-Pacific region, and build alliances with various government departments and development agencies that has helped me continue working to uplift the basic human rights of LGBTI people. Through this programme, I like to believe I had a role to play in Nepal’s progress towards equality of LGBTI people.”
Joining FHI360 in 2016, Bharat is currently supporting the development of resources for men who have sex men, male sex workers and transgender people including training curricula, project management guidelines and standard operating procedures for community based groups. He is also providing technical support to community groups and government health departments to promote testing and help identify HIV cases among men who haves sex with men, male sex workers and transgender people and ensure timely enrollment in care and treatment services.
After the completion of the Being LGBTI in Asia in Nepal, Bharat continued to work with the UNDP Country Office in support of the Multi-Country South Asia Global Fund HIV Programme. In 2015, he joined UNAIDS Nepal and the USAID/Saath Saath Project as a consultant to work on gender based approaches to HIV and tuberculosis interventions among female sex workers and their clients, transgender sex workers, migrant workers and their spouses and people living with HIV.
Rashima Kwatra
Thailand
“Being LGBTI in Asia has been one of the most impactful experiences in my professional and personal life. It instigated my life-long commitment to working for the human rights of LGBTIQ people, made me recognize my own rights as a lesbian woman, and was the foundation of my knowledge of LGBTIQ issues from my region and beyond. I am honored and grateful to have been part of the implementation of Phase I of the initiative and in the conceptualization of Phase II. Engaging with the initiative was and is a life changing experience.”
Rashima currently manages the communications team for OutRight Action International on internal and external communications, advocacy, elevating the work, mission, and voice of the organization globally.
After leaving Being LGBTI in Asia, Rashima pursued her Masters of Public Administration at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at Columbia University. She was elected President of SIPA’s LGBTIQA student association, where Rashima organized the university’s first ever high-level panel on LGBTIQ human rights. She also advocated for LGBTIQ inclusion and visibility as part of SIPA’s Dean’s Diversity Taskforce.
In July 2016, she adopted her son, Spock, who is the cutest puppy you will ever come into contact with!
Lieu Anh Vu
Vietnam
“Working with Being LGBTI in Asia programme taught me about all of the amazing work the LGBTI community does and how much it can achieve when provided with capacity support and resources. It taught me the importance of bringing stakeholders together, of bringing civil society groups together to dialogue with government and policymakers. The Being LGBTI in Asia programme provided a platform for those processes without taking away the ownership of community members. Working in Being LGBTI in Asia was actually the first time I seriously considered LGBTI activism as my career and I’m still doing it and feeling as gay as ever.”
Vu joined ILGA Asia in 2016 as the Regional Coordinator. He is currently working with stakeholders to organize future ILGA Asia regional conferences, mobilize resources and implement advocacy strategies with national LGBTI groups.
After leaving UNDP Vietnam in 2013, Vu joined Youth Voices Count (YVC) a regional network for young gay and transgender people in the Asia-Pacific region. At YVC, Vu worked to strengthen the governance structure of the organization. He also led the development of the YVC advocacy strategy, a policy brief on self-stigma among young people and discussion paper on youth friendly services
In 2014, Vu returned to UNDP Vietnam as the Being LGBTI in Viet Nam project officer where he worked with PFLAG on their advocacy efforts; managed the LGBT youth leadership programme, and coordinated studies on LGBT issues in Vietnam.
Tivea Koam
Cambodia
“Interning with the Being LGBTI in Asia programme helped me meet many inspiring LGBTI activists and to broaden my knowledge and understanding of LGBTI issues. The stories shared by the LGBTI people I met here has inspired me to keep pushing for acceptance and tolerance for all people.”
After his internship, Tivea returned to Lund University to complete his master’s degree in media and communication. His thesis focuses on the representation of LGBT people in Cambodian music videos.
Maya
Thailand
“Being LGBT in Asia inspired me to stand up and be true to myself. Working on LGBTI human rights issues gave me the courage to be open and to openly lend a hand to other LGBTI people. This programme has taught me how we can support each other and work hand in hand to end discrimination and fight stigma. I am so proud that I could be part of this programme.”
Maya is currently a lecturer on ASEAN socio-cultural dynamism and teaching academic English in the School of Liberal Arts at MFU. In addition to teaching, she works with LGBTI students as a counselor to help them express their feelings through writing and other artistic platforms.
After leaving the programme in 2015, Maya completed her Master’s degree in Southeast Asian Studies at Chulalongkorn University (Thailand). She joined MFU in 2016.
Safir Soeparna
Indonesia
“Being part of BLIA is one of the proudest moments of my career, and it has certainly opened my eyes to the on-the-ground work done by brave community advocates in Asian countries.”
In 2014, Safir joined APCOM where he currently oversees communication with stakeholders and target audiences of various projects ranging from high-level advocacy initiatives to capacity building programmes targeting APCOM’s community organization partners. He also manages the TestBKK campaign, APCOM’s city-based HIV testing campaign in Bangkok.
As a communication’s intern at UNDP, Safir was responsible for developing the branding of Being LGBTI in Asia. After leaving UNDP, Safir joined the UN ESCAP Social Development Division as an HIV technical consultant in 2013. He completed his master’s degree from the Southeast Asian Studies at Chulalongkorn University (Thailand) in 2013.
Myat Sandi Min
Myanmar
“I learned an incredible amount working with Being LGBTI in Asia. Specifically I learned about the different concepts of sexual orientation and gender identity across the region. This included data collection and analysis. This experience will be useful to my professional experience as a researcher.”
After leaving UNDP, Myat Sandi Min joined CPI in 2016 as its Research Coordinator. Her main responsibility is to coordinate research planning and communication activities with their partners such as the Ministry of Health and Sports, clinicians, other national partner organizations, and international researchers. She completed her Master of Public Health at Mahidol University (Thailand) in 2016.
Jamison Liang
United States
“My time with Being LGBTI in Asia solidified my belief that true social change needs to start from the ground up and that local activists and their safety need to be at center of project planning, especially in countries where levels of homophobia and transphobia are still quite high.”
Since 2016, Jamison has managed digital engagement and the #LettersforMigrants campaign for the IOM X campaign. The regional campaign aims to prevent human trafficking and promote safe migration, especially for migrant workers in the Asia-Pacific region.
After leaving UNDP, Jamison completed his master’s degree in anthropology and international development at George Washington University (USA) in 2014. Following his graduation, he moved to Jakarta where he joined Walk Free, an NGO that campaigns to end modern slavery as the Senior Southeast Asia Campaigner.
Jamison continues to be engaged on LGBTI issues, please see his recent article here.
