ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2012

ASIA
Half of Asian countries still criminalize homosexuality
Over the past year we have seen a more coordinated effort made by LGBT organizations in Asia to work
together to empower and educate the regional LGBT community and to work towards an ASIA free of ‘State
Sponsored Homophobia’ this tremendous work by activists and organizations has been achieved in spite of
the growing opposition by governments and fundamentalist religious groups.
An LGBT network was created within ASEAN (Association of South East Nations) and this network has been
tasked to working towards the inclusion sexual orientation and gender identity as part of its human rights
declaration. We also see governments in Asia, namely India and Nepal taking a positive stand for the rights of
their LGBT citizens. We see LGBT organization in ASIA working together combining their resources in compiling
reports for the UN UPR.
These positive steps in Asia, has come at a time where the lGBT community in ASIA most needs this positive
affirmation. As we see a growing wave of intolerance, homophobic attacks and clamp downs from
governments, some LGBT organizations have had their work cut out for them this past year.
We Have seen a number of countries including China and Indonesia restrict web access to Gay or Lesbian
Sites including the ILGA website making it more difficult for LGBT organisations in those countries to operate.
We have also seen a rise in public attacks on the LGBT movement, the Coalition of Malaysian Malays
organized an Anti gay rally in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia in April 2012 which attracted a following of thousands.
Taiwan, one of Asia’s more ‘Gay Friendly’ countries reported shocking statistics earlier this year, GSRAT
(Gender/Sexuality Rights Association Taiwan) conducted a survey of 2785 Gay men which reveled that 29
percent had contemplated suicide with 18 percent having attempted in taking their own life. This coupled
with fears from other countries in Asia like Sri Lanka, (that have extremely high rates of suicide), where LGBT
activists believe that the reason for the high rate of suicide is largely due to people struggling with their
sexuality has raised great concerns over the health and wellbeing of the LGBT citizens of Asia.
For the first time since the 1990’s Singapore has reported that the number of Gay and Bisexual men
diagnosed with HIV in Singapore has overtaken that of heterosexual men fuelling the fear that LGBT
organizations in other Asian countries have had regarding the effect of Criminalization of Homosexuality and
its impact on the LGBT community with respect to the access of medication and counseling.
We recognize the growing importance of a continuous, coordinated and well planned effort to safe guard
our rights as human beings, and to guarantee the health and wellbeing of Asia’s LGBT community.
There is a lot of work to be done in Asia for us to achieve our dreams, for we dream of a world free of
homophobia and hate, a world where ALL people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity can live
together harmoniously and a world where we can truly celebrate our diversity.
Poedjiati Tan & Sahran Abeysundara
ILGA-Asia Board members
Asia’s Representatives to the ILGA World Board
State-Sponsored Homophobia – May 2011
ILGA – The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association - www.ilga.org
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