Over the past several decades, activists, advocates and politicians have been fighting for LGBTQ+ rights in Asia. While progress has been made, such as Taiwan passing landmark same-sex marriage laws in 2019, discrimination and the oppression of queer expression still exist across the continent. In this panel, frontline activists, policymakers, and researchers reflect on the progress made, and the challenges that millions still face. Topics will include the role played by grassroots LGBTQ+ and civic groups in influencing legislative processes, differences in Asian and western approaches to queer activism, and strategies for unifying global queer communities.

Panellists

Yu Mei-Nu, lawyer, former legislator of the Legislative Yuan in Taiwan

Yu Mei-Nu is a lawyer who has been a champion for gender issues, democracy, human rights and judicial reform throughout her distinguished career. She was legislator-at-large from 2012 to 2020 and a member of the Democratic Progressive Party. Yu has particularly focused on improvements in feminist and gender equality, judicial reform, human rights protection, and legal aid. She has advocated on behalf of numerous social movements, with her most outstanding achievement perhaps her contribution to the legalization of same-sex marriage in Taiwan in 2019. Yu was responsible for establishing the National Human Rights Institution and is a pioneer of transitional justice in Taiwan. Due to her efforts in promoting human rights and gender equality, she was conferred the National Order of Merit by France in 2020.

Ryan V. Silverio, Executive Director of ASEAN SOGIE Caucus

Ryan V. Silverio is the Executive Director of ASEAN SOGIE Caucus. They have more than 20 years of work experience in the field of human rights and LGBTIQ rights in Asia, specifically in the areas of human rights education, advocacy, research, and program management. Ryan is passionate about cultural activism, mysticism, and creating spaces for unheard voices within social movements.

Otgonbaatar Tsedendemberel, former Executive Director of the LGBT Center of Mongolia

Otgonbaatar Tsedendemberel is a co-founder and former Executive Director of the LGBT Center of Mongolia. He is a currently a PhD student in sociology at Corvinus University of Budapest, having previously studied human rights, gender studies, and civil law. As former Advocacy Program Manager (2009-2011) and Executive Director (2011-2014) of the LGBT Center of Mongolia, Tsedendemberel helped lead the country’s LGBTQ+ rights movement. He served as board member of the Mongolian organizations Open Society Forum and Youth Policy Watch, and is currently on the Program Advisory Committee of the Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Center for Women (ARROW).
 

Moderator

Daniel Conway, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, University of Westminster