Around the world, lesbian, bisexual, and queer people continue to face discrimination and persecution. Even then, across Asia, LBQ movements are vibrantly organized for survival, joy, and liberation. Their work is intersectional, aiming to uplift not only their own communities but all who are underprivileged, to build a future that is safe, inclusive, and just.
Despite their value of work, these new and emerging groups are systematically under-supported, leaving them to navigate a landscape of scarcity where funding is often short term and project based, giving little to no resource for the organisation to actually be sustainable. This problem is worsened by the shrinking space for LBQ organisations to research, and address LBQ issues, and the inevitable professional disagreements that in some cases turns into interpersonal conflict. It pulls them into a cycle of uncertainty, with burnouts and high staff turnover, threatening the foundation of activists’ crucial contribution.
Our report “Resilient in The Face of Scarcity” sets out to understand these unique yet shared challenges. We documented the complex struggles that LBQ organizations face from the funding instability, to the systemic barriers within the broader landscape of LGBTQIA+ movement, and the mental toll this work takes on activists. Our goal is to step beyond simply acknowledging their resilience. This report is a call to action, aiming to build a more supportive ecosystem of LBQ organisations by shedding light on these often-unnoticed struggles. We intend to sensitize funders, allies, and the wider human rights communities to the barriers that these groups face and to then explore practical solutions for organizational development that are rooted in the needs of activists in the global south
The dedication of these activists cannot be the only thing sustaining their movements. We invite you to witness the stories, understand the challenge, and join us in building a more sustainable future for LBQ movements. The full report is now available for download.
