International Policy
As a member of the global LGBTIQ+ movement, Equality Australia supports our overseas counterparts, especially in the Pacific and Asia.
Progress on LGBTIQ+ equality is possible. Recently we’ve seen decriminalisation of homosexuality in the Cook Islands and Singapore, and marriage equality in Thailand.
These steps forward were achieved through the leadership of local LGBTIQ+ people, with support from their local and international allies.
Despite these examples of progress, LGBTIQ+ people in the Asia-Pacific face grave challenges. Countries in this region are home to some of the world’s harshest anti-LGBTIQ+ laws.
21 Asia-Pacific nations criminalise consensual same-sex relations and trans or gender diverse people in 32 countries are unable to update their name and/or gender marker on official documents.
Only a few nations have LGBTIQ+ anti-discrimination protections, meaning people face exclusion and discrimination at schools and workplaces, in hospitals, homes or on the street.
There has also been an increase in anti-LGBTIQ+ rhetoric and a rollback of equality gains across the region, with political attacks gaining momentum driven by the global anti-gender movement.
Despite this, funding for the movement remains limited.
The Pacific and Asia receive some of the lowest levels of funding of any region, with recent severe funding cuts exacerbating the situation and threatening the existence of many LGBTIQ+ organisations.
As a national organisation in a wealthy country like Australia, we are uniquely placed to achieve positive impact for our global movement and in the often neglected Pacific and Asia regions.
Our priorities:
- Increasing Australian government funding and advocacy for LGBTIQ+ rights, in partnership with Global Philanthropy Project
- Building support for LGBTIQ+ issues among Australian human rights and aid organisations working overseas
- Amplifying the priorities of the Pacific and Asian LGBTIQ+ movement in global and regional institutions
- Engaging with the Australian public to build understanding of international LGBTIQ+ issues, and of how Australia and Australians can contribute
- Undertaking research and monitoring and documenting the LGBTIQ+ rights situation in countries around the region, where needed by our local counterparts
How we work:
- We support our local counterparts, who understand their own contexts and know how best to make progress.
- We seek to align the approaches of other actors, such as international aid agencies, behind the leadership of local LGBTIQ+ movements.
- Our Australian government advocacy is delivered in partnership with LGBTIQ+ peak organisations at regional level in the Pacific and Asia.
Defending Equality
Equality Australia and our partner, Global Philanthropy Project, have released a new report on LGBTIQ+ rights in Asia and the Pacific.
Defending Equality: Why LGBTIQ+ rights matter for regional democracy and stability highlights that:
- Local LGBTIQ+ movements are a critical enabler of progress on LGBTIQ+ rights - but are facing government crackdowns on their freedom to operate and severe cuts to already limited funding.
- Authoritarian political leaders and their allies are deliberately stoking anti-LGBTIQ+ hate speech, disinformation and attacks to create an atmosphere of fear and division – and create political cover for anti-democratic policies like windbacks of press freedoms and clampdowns on civil society.
- An extensive and well-funded network of international organisations is coordinating and driving anti-LGBTIQ+ attacks across the region and around the world – and working to undermine democracy, stability and human rights more broadly.
Protecting LGBTIQ+ rights helps protect democracy and stability – essential precursors for Australia’s own interests in the region.
Partnering with Pride: The case for Australian action on equality in our region.
In 2023 Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong announced Australia’s first ever dedicated strategy and fund for international LGBTIQ+ equality.
The government’s announcement followed the launch of the Partnering with Pride report, produced by Equality Australia, the Global Philanthropy Project (GPP) and a coalition of Asia and Pacific regional partner organisations.
