LGBTQ+ rights in Rights in Asia: Progress and Challenges

The Institute of Current World Affairs David Mixner LGBTQ+ fellow Edric Huang will discuss the role of LGBTQ+ rights in Taiwan’s democracy, and what the movement’s discourse says about the island’s social and political direction.

He'll then take part in a panel discussion with The Council for Global Equality's Mark Bromley and Ying Xin of Harvard Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights, moderated by ICWA Trustee Fabrice Houdart, former United Nations human rights officer.

Edric spent two years based in Taipei examining how pluralistic identity politics, legal battles and geopolitical pressures are affecting queer communities. Read his dispatches here.

This event will be livestreamed. Register here to join via Zoom.

Edric Huang was the David Mixner LGBTQ+ fellow (2023–2025) at the Institute of Current World Affairs, where he examined LGBTQ+ social movements in Taiwan. Previously a Schwarzman scholar, he holds a master’s in global affairs from Tsinghua University and a bachelor’s in anthropology and creative writing from Princeton University. After his fellowship, Edric joined Grindr for Equality, Grindr’s social impact arm, to lead a portfolio of LGBTQ+ health and human rights grants and programs across the Asia-Pacific region.

Panelists

Mark Bromley is co-chair of the Council for Global Equality. He helped launch the council in 2008 to encourage a clearer and stronger American voice on international LGBT and intersex human rights concerns. In 2016, he provided the first-ever testimony to the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the state of LGBT rights around the world. Bromley and his colleagues provide regular briefings on trends impacting LGBT individuals globally.

Ying Xin is program manager for the Global LGBTQI+ Human Rights Program at the Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, where she works to support LGBTQI+ leaders worldwide and advocate for the dignity and well-being of LGBTQI+ individuals, particularly in underrepresented and under-resourced regions. She promotes cross-sector collaborations addressing LGBTQI+ inclusion, disability rights and mental health.

Fabrice Houdart spent two decades working for the UN/World Bank system. From 2001to 2016, he was senior country officer at the World Bank, where he authored economic development analyses on Yemen, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Tunisia, and provided contributions to the 2012 Gender World Development Report (WDR) and the 2011 Conflict, Security and Development WDR. As a Human Rights Officer at the United Nations in New York (2016-2020), he worked on Free & Equal, a groundbreaking UN campaign for LGBTQ+ equality. He co-authored and led the United Nations Global LGBTQ+ standards of conduct for business, the largest corporate social responsibility initiative on LGBTQ+ issues in the World. In addition to running FH Consulting, he is the founder and executive director of the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors and a director at OutPerform LGBT invest, an LGBTQ+ impact investing fund.

About ICWA

The Institute of Current World Affairs advances American understanding of global societies by sending outstanding young professionals abroad on two-year independent writing fellowships to study countries, regions and globally important issues. They have become some of America’s leading experts on international cultures and affairs.

ICWA nurtures the kind of deep knowledge future generations will need to ensure America’s role in the world is informed by wisdom, foresight and compassion.

Venue

This event will be held at the Human Rights Campaign offices in Washington, DC. You must be registered, ID is required and no large bags are allowed.