ASEAN SOGIE Caucus
Inclusive and diverse ASEAN
ASEAN SOGIE Caucus
Inclusive and diverse ASEAN
Inclusive and diverse ASEAN
Inclusive and diverse ASEAN
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
On 27 January 2018, approximately 10 beauty salons in North Aceh, Indonesia became subject to raids and 12 transgender women were arrested. They were forced to cut and shave their hair, stripped of their clothes, verbally harassed, and subjected to physical and mental therapies in an attempt to make them more “masculine”. On the pretenses of protecting public morals, the women were subjected to cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment and punishment. The raids and arrests were part of the Aceh government's policy directive on "Eradication of Community Disease” and counter terrorism.
This act of violence is the most recent in a wave of persecution by government and extremist civilian forces against transgender and LGBIQ persons in Indonesia, including last year's public flogging of two men on charges of committing consensual sexual relations.
Last December, lesbian, bisexual, trans women, trans men, and queer (LBTQ) activsts met during the ILGA Asia Conference to claim their space and assert that the fight for the human rights of all women is not over.
Even in an advocacy where diversity and inclusion are the main messages, not all have been welcomed: not all diversities are accepted, and inclusion somehow comes at the cost of excluding others. Under the rainbow flag, women have felt overshadowed rather than empowered. This is unacceptable, and ASEAN SOGIE Caucus will continue to work together with LBTQ women until they are no longer invisible and no longer silenced.
Their meeting was hleld from 4-5 December 2017 prior to the ILGA Asia Conference in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia and resulted in a statement. For the full statement, see below:
ASEAN SOGIE Caucus launched today its latest report, “The Rainbow in Context: An Overview of the Situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, and Queer (LGBTIQ) Persons in Southeast Asia”. The report is the first in Southeast Asia and provides a summary of various human rights issues facing LGBTIQ people in the region.
The report highlighted key human rights trends, such as the increasing criminalization and pathologization of LGBTIQ people amidst the rising influence of conservative social forces. The report likewise discusses the increasing threats against human rights defenders working on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC). Moreover, persistent discrimination in accessing social services and protection is also brought to light.
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
