Young Achiever
Recipient
Tseveenravdan Tsogbat
Mongolia
My name is Tseveenravdan Tsogbat, a 24-year-old who identifies as gay and genderqueer. At 16, I found my calling through volunteering with civil society organizations and humanitarian NGOs, where I discovered my passion for human rights, democracy, and gender equality. Since then, I’ve contributed to LGBTI+ causes with organizations like Youth LEAD Mongolia and the LGBT Center in various roles, from volunteer to full-time advocate.
I left home at 18 and have lived independently ever since. Now, I share a home with my chosen queer family—two close friends and three cats. Though my family’s acceptance is partial, I support my parents and siblings however I can. Personally, I’m drawn to feminist theory and the history of democracy, and I spend time exploring these areas while enjoying meaningful moments with my loved ones.
While many of my queer friends leave Mongolia for a better queer friendly space and quality life and encourage me to do the same, I feel called to stay. I dream of building a welcoming space here for them, a place they can one day return to.
Brief information about your work
I consider my professional journey to have started when I began volunteering at the LGBT Center in 2018. I define my profession as that of a human rights defender and media specialist. With eight years in human rights, I’ve also explored media and PR roles alongside advocacy work. For instance, I advanced from intern journalist to social media manager and digital editor for the Unlimited Media Group’s daily news site ub.life, and contributed to Gereg magazine. I have also been part of the coordination team of Mongolia’s well-known storytelling Facebook page, “ChoironGoo,” with over 181,000 followers. Additionally, I founded the first LGBTIQ+ media platform in Mongolia which is movement.mn this year.
In human rights, my first full-time position was as a Youth Programme Manager at the LGBT Centre Mongolia in 2021, where I contributed to community-building and youth initiatives. Later, in 2022, I launched the SOGIE program at Youth LEAD Mongolia, advocating for LGBTIQ+ youth and YKP to elevate their voices in healthcare decision-making and promote social well-being. As of May 2023, I have started to serve as the Executive Director of Youth LEAD Mongolia, where I focus on organizational development, meaningful engagement, psychological support, and social services for marginalized groups facing discrimination, healthcare accessibility.
What one achievement you’ve accomplished that you’re most proud of? Why?
Over the past year, I’ve been grateful to lead a team of 4-6 psychologists to provide over 575 hours of free mental health support to more than 80 LGBTIQ+ individuals—an achievement that highlights the urgent need for well-being initiatives in our community.
Partnering with LGBT Centre Mongolia and Trans for Unity, we organized Equality and Pride Days on a larger scale this year. Also, I’m honored to tell you that our organization represents Mongolians youths in the Country Coordinating Mechanism for 6 years. Our growth has also allowed us to increase our organization’s budget twelvefold, enabling us to expand much-needed programs for the community.
What do you find most challenging about your work? Why?
There are many times when I think about my work every day, every hour, and every step. I often think, “It would be nice to do something like this for public awareness.” For example, over the past year, I’ve been walking down the street looking for blank walls that haven’t been painted on. As part of our public visibility campaign, we paint the walls of buildings that can be seen by many people in the street with the rainbow colors of pride. This aims to give hope to LGBTI+ children and youth, showing them that “you are not alone; there is someone who understands you.” So far, we’ve painted a total of six locations around the city, but only two of them are still rainbow-colored. The owners of the walls often remove the colors or face public backlash when they discover the six colors of the LGBTQ+ pride flag. This situation illustrates how much I think about my work at every step. That’s why I try to approach my work with as little stress as possible and with great satisfaction.
What do you do to recharge your battery?
My community, especially young LGBTQI+ people, and my queer family support in local, region, globally.
What is your vulnerability and how do you overcome it?
One of the biggest vulnerabilities in my work is facing the resistance some people have toward LGBTIQ+ rights, especially in settings like journalism, psychology, civil society, and government. In training, workshops or meetings, I usually encounter people who label queerness as a “disease.” Responding to these moments tactfully is difficult; I try to explain calmly that sexual orientation and gender identity are not illnesses, but I feel exhausted. Unlike others, LGBTIQ+ individuals often have to justify their identities. Despite these challenges, I believe in a future where being openly queer in Mongolia is respected without question, and that keeps me going.
You have been nominated for the Young Achiever category. What was your reaction and please, tell us why?
Last year, I saw the Angel Queentus from Sri Lanka who is my dear friend, achieved this category. And I remember that I told my few friends from the region about how I am proud of her achievements. My first reaction was like “which one nominated me” and also felt excited and honored for the nomination.
What is a warm/hopeful message that you would like to share with the communities in the Asia Pacific?
To all young leaders in the Asia Pacific, Let’s continue to shine and work together for a better future!
