An opportunity for allyship and advocacy across Asia Pacific

Sydney WorldPride presented an opportunity to strengthen Australia’s position as an ally to the Asia Pacific LGBTQIA+ community.

The bid for Sydney WorldPride responded to a challenging regional context for LGBTQIA+ rights, and presented an opportunity for advocacy.

The bid made reference to recent injustices against LGBTQIA+ people including a public caning to a young couple in the Aceh Province of Indonesia in 2017 who were committed for the ‘crime’ of engaging in gay sex1, and an attempt in 2019 in the Sultanate of Brunei to make the already criminal offence of sex between men one that is punishable by death by stoning 2. For a list of countries where being LGBTQIA+ is punishable by law, see page 13.

Sydney WorldPride provided the opportunity to signify Australia’s position as a safe gathering place and ally to the LGBTQIA+ community in Asia Pacific. In a global index measuring Social Acceptance of ‘LGBTI’ People published by the UCLA Williams Centre, Australia ranks 11th out of 175 countries, and 2nd in Asia Pacific, after New Zealand.3 Other major Asia Pacific countries, including India and China, rank far lower, at 51 and 100 respectively.

The Sydney WorldPride Festival’s landmark Human Rights Conference featured regional spotlights on progress and challenges across Asia Pacific to strengthen global connections and advocacy efforts.4

2: Social Acceptance ratings of LGBTI people in Asia Pacific

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