LGBT Story Project
I didn't make it to the Summer Institute this year. But I have invested some time and brain cells to write this short essay..
Commitment I want to improve LGBTQI people’s life through action research and activism. To strengthen my ability of conducting cross-disciplinary research, critical thinking and taking strategic actions for LGBTQI related causes within Asian context, I am in desperate need of a combined support in the intersection of sexuality, culture and society studies. I will make the most out of my time with the summer institute as I sincerely think this is a great opportunity and I miss the feeling of learning new things every minute in a summer institute. Previous academic experience Since early 2014, I began to map out resources, connections and the ecosystem of LGBT communities in greater China and Southeast Asia through desk review and anthropological field work. Using perspectives of ecosystem, social networks analysis, and scoping approach popular in the foundation world, I hope to figure out: 1) the landscape of LGBT movement, 2) possible development trends in the next five to ten years, 3) and real needs and gaps in this region. So far, I’ve visited 15 major cities and conducted more than 100 in-depth interviews with field leaders from a wide range of professional backgrounds (academia, nonprofit, media, health, pink economy, art & culture and etc.), and mapped out more than 600 individuals who actively work around LGBT issues in this region (the number is growing everyday). With this expanding database, I hope to provide a unique and independent view of the development of LGBT communities to activists along with other stakeholders, find out my own niche to take actions, and help build a stronger action network. Why I wish to participate I believe the knowledge and network I can gain from the summer institute will help me 1) deepen and broaden my understanding of intertwined issues on sexuality, culture and society; 2) analyze development trends and real needs of my own community based on data collected from my field study; and 3) connect me with more scholars, practitioners and thoughtful leaders in the ecosystem of world LGBT communities. What do you hope to learn
0 Comments
Free writing part 3
Story: I am not the best person to tell people’s stories, I should let people tell their own stories. One idea is to let people who can really tell their stories do their own work. I want to organize TED events specifically for LGBT people. This is to inspire people by people’s stories. I want to do this. and this makes me feel burning. Where should I put this.? virtual or physical. I should organize a public speaking to let people present their stories. Second, I need a library. I need a resource cloud , there are so much I want to put up there. But think realistically, something I really can put up there are probably things coming from activism. And research. And media content. Third, I need a university course, and a special , excellent program on LGBT issues. In Asia, only Thailand offers study programs on LGBT issues and also Taiwan. This is a big gap. We need people to convey the knowledge, we need people to start working on these knowledge now and discuss them, and hone them. It is definitely needed. Clinics. Private clinics or friendly clinics for LGBT people. People everywhere complain about the disease the embarrassment of seeing a doctor. For STD and sexual intercourse related issues. You know, even myself face this challenge, I have a hard time to find a good place where I can take test, get treatment, and feeling comfortable of going. Language barrier. English is the probably the most commonly used language for these people. But for people who don’t speak English or who haven’t achieved the best level of English fluency, what should we do? We should mobilize more people to work on the translation part, to have all the movies dubbed, articles translated., and website connected. So how about Family acceptance and family values are two major things connecting to every LGBT person in Asia. It is really common for people to refer to gay parents relationship. We should first encourage the spread of PFLG since more people find PFLAG is a good way to go. But another approach, is to build strong gay and straight ally. There are multiple reasons why we need that. We first definitely need more people to our sides. Second, who would LGBT consider the most? Family and then close friends. It makes no sense if people care about complete strangers’ attitude about LGBT life and rights. That’s not their business. we should let people around LGBT people start really understanding, accepting, and supporting LGBT friends. If they are true believers in LGBT rights, then it is important to and easier for the future development. Cities, is probably where we want to start. Usually, people will think to expand their work coverage to rural places. I don’t deny the importance of caring about rural places and LGBT people who live there. But actually, I think cities will become a breakthrough. Considering revolution in China, The CCP used the rural envelopes cities, but in the case of LGBT movement, it is unlikely a successfully case. I may need to think more about this. People lack of information. there are different sides to it. first the new and cool knowledge pumped into the internet is not enough. They are not updated. We need fresh knowledge. Then, we need a better channel to let people get it. when we produce information, they cam come from various forms. But how can we use them as needs specific knowledge. It could be we need more professional people to analyze information, cut them into pieces, cook them, and feed into different customers. Free writing practice part 2
When do you talk about life and needs, you will never notice the thing you have been thinking about. It is all about life and needs and no one really knows what is in their minds. You know, to be honest, so much things have been happening and you don’t know how long you can sustain. I also always have some good ideas, at least I thought I have those ideas. But actually maybe there are not as brilliant as I thought. They are just simple ides. I want to build a powerful information database for people whoever care about LGBT issues to uses. They can check all those information about a city, a person, a history, and problem, and whatever people want to find out about a place. I just want to let them find out all these. I found it is extremely difficult to find information online. However they are here and there and scattered. How can I link all those information together. The simplest thing I can do is to help build Wikipedia. But people say it is not very good to use. How can I use technology to create and platform for people to share and post information online? I do need to make people believe in what I do and let them feed the information. It will be too difficult if I personally codify and edit all the information as everything is different. I need to build standards and let people accept it. Once people can find the massive information but good to use, which is user-friendly, it might be something people may want to see. How can I take information from difference sources and present them at one single space. Why do we need this platform? History is important for LGBT people, particularly for LGBT people because we don’t pass along knowledge and information through family education, or parenting, we need to LGBT peobple will emerge generations after generations, we don’t want people to forget everything. Geographic division. It is extremely difficult to find information sitting at one place. But people need to communicate, they have social media to help them. But for things that have already happened, all those publications, articles, and research, how can they be useful for LGBT people in general. But what information should we have online? This is an exert from my job application. Hope I can get it as this position is closely linked with my current research...
I am passionate about mobilizing, forming and maintaining partnerships across sectors. 1. Based on my research, I think basically we need more people with different skills and resources to work in the LGBT field as this field is extremely hunger for talents, resources (both philanthropic dollars and business investment) and allies (academia, media, broader civil society, and public offices, etc.). 2. I have mapped out some of the key resources in the LGBT field and have been trying to figure out potential collaboration opportunities. I successfully influenced straight businessmen investing in pink market to provide travel services for Chinese LGBT population which will not only address this growing need but also help increase the visibility of LGBT community, change public perception and create more job opportunities. 3. I think UNDP will provide a very good platform for me to identify more resources and encourage more forces to work around LGBT issues. E.g., one critical gap I have mapped out is the lack of funding for human rights and culture related projects. I would like to have a deeper look at the funding situation in Asia Pacific region and convince more funders (foundations, government and inter-governmental organizations, international aid agencies and individuals) to jointly support the development of LGBT community. 4. I have a very good networking skill. I like to connect with real activists, thoughtful leaders and key persons who may potentially affect the big picture. In the past four months, I have connected with about 300 individual activists. Free writing practice for research findings part 1
What have you got after four months traveling? A good but incomplete list of activists in Southeast Asia and China 100 plus conversations city hopping feeling: founders are hard to meet; scholars are somewhere hard to find; activists are the most visible community representatives; the largest effort taken at regional level is UNDP; There are many people working around these issues but the field is not organic yet. The infrastructure is not there. We are still at the stage of trying to figure out what’s happening on the ground Timeline: past, present and future How do you define past and present: with the emergence of LGBT movement Collective political demands I can’t say countries; I feel cities are hard to represent the whole country Situations in cities Chinese influence (Confucianism, Buddhism, and local belief) Development perspective: age difference which will lead to different needs In formative years Know more, but feel unsure about everything In china, there is no LGBT community, people even don’t imagine that way. It’s too big too hard too far away What’s the situation of development of LGBT communities in SEA and greater china? Once you have a clear direction and specific question, people would be more than happy to help. They can share what they know with someone they never meet before. How amazing. What do they get out of me? I keep asking myself this question. Nearlly nothing. They are doing this out of their mindedness and the hope that more people are welcomed to join LGBT family.
I should learn from them. Will I help future APLP alumni? Maybe. I don’t want to do something because moral pressure. But I am happy to be connected. If future alumni can pose clear questions and demostrate some foundamental knowledge about the topic he/she cares about, I will very likely to help. Did I make good use of their time? How should I keep them in the loop and mobilize these people? They are all activists, how can I do something about this social capital? Social capital is not about me and others but everyone with everyone. If we are talking about something bigger, I guess I have to let people talk to each other and recognize the importance of knowing each other. How can I let people realize the importance of knowing each other? I should let people see the potential collaboration point and the importance that they are to each other. What’s their collaboration point? After I post last article, I received unexpectedly amount of greeting e-mails with comfort and encouragement. I deeply appreciate it.
This action reminds me of support system. We all need to build a support network around us. That might be something called social network support. In the past, I didn’t feel that much about social network. To me, it was only something you can have chats, you keep relationship with, or you do some work together. But when I started travelling on GIST, I seriously learnt the power of social network. EWC actually has an amazing alumni network; it connects to a lot of people. Usually, non EWC alumni will less likely to offer a much more impassioned hand. They will kindly reply to my e-mails, and point to probably one or two places. But APLP alumni are ardent. They went out of their way to help me. Usually their contacts will lead to more fruitful results. I deeply thank them. In the mean time, I began to add people I’ve met on the road on Facebook. It is not perfect, but at least it will show me something, for example, the expansion of my social networks and I become part of the whole LGBT networks. I cut in out of nowhere and suddenly become “friends” of many people. I should run Gephi again and see what the results might be. After three months of traveling, I feel I am about to have an emotional break-down. I can’t help but feel the deep sadness and helplessness inside.
It all happens in Bangkok, a place claimed to be a paradise. Why is that, you may ask. I wonder about it, too. Travel fatigue, constantly moving and context shifting, and hundreds of hellos and goodbyes, homesickness, and frustration with writing…I guess they are all good reasons. I don’t know where to stay, what to do, how to cheer myself up. I became agitated and more and more frustrated in my little dorm room in a little hostel. That’s then I realize sometimes, for people like me who are antisocial most of the time, actually should get a private room. Rendezvous with fellow GISTers is such a joyful experience. We may be the only ones in this world to share something in common and understand some of challenges we encountered during these study trips. And alas, time to say goodbye. Like a train has to leave. And more goodbyes to say. So many interesting people I have met. I am curious about their life. I want to pry even more into their life and learn about their stories, thoughts, and frustration and happiness. But like Mekong River running towards the sea, I can do nothing about it. Meeting with new friends, again with old friends, and saying goodbye have become more and more difficult. Listening to retro music, billows of homesickness come and devour me down. It’s not exactly about my own home, but something I am familiar with, something I have expertise in, something I can control and tweak to making things work better or beautiful. I am in vain when travelling. I can’t do the usual things I am good at. I feel so truly about my own limitations when in a foreign environment. My skills are nowhere to be used. And I also realize, all I know actually is not that special. People don’t have to have elaborate things in a fancy way to achieve their end goal. They can speak spoken language but they can still convey their meaning. All the survival skills I picked up in big cities, often times, they don’t work in these emerging cities. No one to talk to intellectually is also another major source of frustration, I guess. Once I schedule fewer meetings, when more and more free time takes up my life, a sense of vainness and void quickly disseminate and takes up the whole space. I also find I am not happy anymore with people I used to. That realization likes a big sword, stirred up the beautiful memories I used to possess, toss them in the air, and shred them into pieces, like snowflakes, and then let them drop back to the ground pathetically. So I decided to move on. I can’t stay in one place for too long. I need to change. I have to run. Today, when asked by a scholar to show him some of my research findings, I come up with some questions I have been contemplating inspired by all my meetings along the way, by creative writing. They are not very systemic... I like them even though I still need to hone them. I know I wouldn't be able to ask some of them without talking to people here and there!
How to enhance LGBT people's confidence in their SOGI by creating better access to information? · What messages to deliver? What information do LGBTQI people need? · What channels work best for different groups with different demographic features? · In which way people can share and use meaningful information cross political and cultural borders? Role of academia and education · What are some of the hot research topics in Southeast Asia and greater China area? · How to create a cross-disciplinary platform for all LGBTQI related researchers? · How to incorporate academia research findings into nonprofit’s work and media coverage? · How to produce new knowledge together with practitioners? · What’s the most pressing issue we can work on about SOGI education in school system? How to identify and clear the obstacles on the journey of LGBTQI people’s coming out, e.g. · Changing psychological and clinic doctors' perception and practices · How to deal with family values in each Asian society? Will PFLAG model be useful? · What multinationals can do to help build an equal and inclusive working environment for LGBTQI people? How to engage and leverage private sector to provide services most needed but neglected by the public sector for LGBT community? E.g. · Job opportunities for kids who are kicked-out from home or dropped out from school · Medical care for different age/SOGI groups · Legal service · Senior care services, etc. Funding and talent building · What’s the landscape of LGBTQI related grantmaking look like in SEA and Greater China? · How to introduce more philanthropic dollars into this sector? · Developing multiple funding strategies to encourage and nurture the field · Customize supporting programs for practitioners and field leaders The other day I had an interesting conversation with Dan. We were staying at the remote mountaintop school in a Karen village near Chiangmai, Thailand. We looked at the sixty plus primary school students and wondered how their future life would be. You know, for kids who are already in their sixth grade, half of them are still unable to read or write. This is appalling.
What could we do to help? Dan also mentioned low income people he met in Nepal, street youth we saw everywhere and even LGBT kids who were kicked out of their homes. What could we do to help them? No doubt, one easy way nearly everyone can think of, after these poor kids are fed and sheltered, is giving them education. I think education is important and sometimes, it might be the easiest way out. I always feel that way when it comes to my life. Without education, my whole life will probably be completely different. However, will school education be really effective to everyone, especially to people we see right now? I doubt. At this school, kids have spent about 5 years here but they are still illiterate. I’ve seen their text books and watched a few minutes of their video classes. Do they need to know every bit of fancy life described in those colorful books? You know, they live in such a small, remote and impoverished village. Octopus, giraffe and pandas won’t help them much when talking to foreign visitors, which according to my observations, is probably their major income source. In these cases, do we want to reconsider what tool to provide for them? Maybe the quick solution for these kids is to help them master English or Chinese ASAP so after a few years, they can find a job in Chiangmai’s blooming touristy industry. We need to educate people, but at the same time we need to let them learn some skill to make a living. Dan mentioned, in the case of runaway or kicked-out LGBT youth, yes they do need the education about HIV/AIDS, but they also need to be able to earn some money. Why don’t we provide some training and help them become peer trainers, peace maker, sustainable farm keepers, facilitators… He argued that donors may like the idea as well. It will help diversify their portfolio. They don’t always put money into one single cause but can support various initiatives and generate bigger social impact. This conversation definitely reminds me of OPEN group I visited in HCMC, Vietnam. The founder maintained a big house to provide shelter for young people who are kicked out of their families once they come out to their parents or discovered by them from nearby provinces where people still hold a strong belief that being LGBT is a wrong doing. To keep the house going, they are trying out online shop and selling second-hand clothes. Their way of trying to be self-sufficient is definitely interesting. But I sense some waste of labor and talent. If they are some good training, maybe those talented kids can do more on their own? |
AuthorHi this is Martin. I am traveling in greater China and Southeast Asia. Looking for conversations, adventures, and more. Archives
April 2015
Categories |
Proudly powered by Weebly