As APCOM celebrates its 18^th anniversary in 2025, we are proud to release our 2024 Annual Update, spotlighting a year of innovation, resilience, and collective action across Asia and the Pacific.

Resilience in Action: Communities Driving Change

The report reflects APCOM’s commitment to advancing the rights, health, and wellbeing of LGBTQI people and key populations, through programmes that are rooted in community leadership, regional collaboration, and partnership with the private sector.

“Our work continues to be inspired by the tireless efforts of country-level community partners who are dedicated to serve the LGBTQI community and key populations, challenge inequities, and build inclusive futures,”

said Midnight Poonkasetwattana, Executive Director of APCOM.

“Their courage and commitment push us not only to act, but to celebrate the successes from our solidarity and shared purpose.”

Throughout 2024, APCOM deepened its partnerships with national communities, regional agencies, and development organisations ensuring that advocacy is not only impactful, but also sustainable. These collaborations with community-led organisations and partnerships with the corporate sector lead towards progress in health equity, human rights, and representation of the community across the region.

While communities have consistently demonstrated resilience in the face of systemic barriers, APCOM emphasises that resilience must not be romanticised. It is a response to adversity and not a substitute for structural support. Strengthening regional networks and investing in country-level leadership remain critical to ensuring that communities are not only visible, but meaningfully supported.

As a regional organisation, APCOM stands alongside its partners in reaffirming the power of community-led change. The 2024 Annual Update is both a reflection of what has been achieved and a call to action for what must come next.

• APCOM provided small grants to 10 LGBTQI-led organisations and 5 women-led organisations for organisational strengthening in 5 countries in Southeast Asia.
• 5 training needs analysis reports on gender equality, non-discrimination, and inclusion were developed to serve as bases for national workshops to be organized in 5 countries
• Under this project, APCOM together with Asian Development Bank, organised the 2nd ADB Learning Week in Manila, Philippines to foster social and economic inclusion of LGBTQI communities
• APCOM organized the 2024 Community Summit and invited all 15 project country partner organizations to the meeting for learning sessions, cross learning across the 5 countries and regional LGBTQI agenda-building
• 5 women-led LBTQ organisations participated in the 15th AWID International Forum, presenting Southeast Asia’s LBTQ voices on the global feminist stage

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• A region-wide scan captured operational details, staffing levels, and mental health capacities in four countries; Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines.
• Partner organizations in Indonesia involved the Ministry of Health in a review of mental health needs for LGBTQI individuals, while advocacy efforts in Thailand garnered interest from stakeholders such as UNESCO Thailand.
• The project facilitated alliances among grassroots and national-level organizations, academic institutions, and potential donors. Through these networks, partners supported each other’s efforts, ensuring that momentum continued even after the project’s official end date.

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• Funded by the Global Fund, with support from Health Equity Matters (HEM), APCOM conducted a series of training sessions with public health officials and community advocates, including focus group discussions with MSM and Trans women to understand the local landscape of chemsex.
• The project also organised a workshop in Bhutan to build capacity of community-led organisations and mobilise communities ahead of the national PrEP launch.
• APCOM co-organised a major regional event in partnership with UNAIDS, Seven Alliance, and Health Advocacy Coalition (HAC), bringing together participants from Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) regions to share insights and strategies on CLM.

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• During the PEPFAR Country Operational Plan and Regional Operational Plan (COP/ROP) 2024 Meeting held in Manila, Philippines in February 2024, key populations and community representatives from Asia advocated for strategic ways to sustain community-led HIV services for key populations.
• During the COP/ROP24, APCOM together with the key population and communities called for increased investments towards organisational strengthening efforts aimed at building capacity within these institutions. Training on financial management skills, programme design and implementation strategies must be made available to enhance their sustainability.

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• Being both community-led and driven, the APCOM Community Summit 2024 provided a safe, inclusive space for open dialogue, emphasising leadership, participation, and representation of key populations and individuals with diverse SOGIESC. By leveraging diverse experiences and knowledge, the Summit encourage innovative thinking, foster collaboration, and generate new ideas and approaches.
• Over 100 participants from 10 countries across Southeast and South Asia attended the APCOM COMMUNITY SUMMIT 2024.

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• Expanding testXXX city campaigns: In 2024, testBKK, testMNL, testSGN and testKTM collectively reached over 1.8 million people online and linked 50,000 LGBTQI individuals to HIV testing, PrEP and treatment services, normalising HIV prevention across Asia.
• Building community capacity: Supported partners with training on digital outreach, data protection and advocacy, ensuring that grassroots organisations can harness technology to advance health equity and LGBTQI rights.

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Workplace Inclusion

• Valvoline introduced gender-neutral health benefits and inclusive hiring, showing that diversity boosts morale and productivity.
• Seagate Technology grew its Pride ERG in Asia to over 500 members, with principles of participation, listening, and advocacy.
• Muang Thai Life Insurance uses gender-neutral titles (“Khun”), inclusive policies for same-sex partners, and LGBTQI+ staff in leadership roles.

Community & Social Impact

• Citizen Volunteer demonstrated that volunteerism fosters equal participation and helps dismantle stereotypes, especially during COVID-19 recovery.
• LaLaLove Fashion showcased unisex fashion and eco-friendly materials, embracing diversity while promoting sustainability.
• True Colorful Visibility Exhibition highlighted transmasculine stories and launched GenDHL.com, connecting LGBTQI+ people to healthcare and mental health support.

Law & Policy

• Panels stressed the urgent need for a Gender Recognition Act and stronger anti-discrimination enforcement.
  Speakers linked outdated laws and identity documents to barriers in healthcare, banking, and travel.
  Marriage Equality was spotlighted as a historic milestone in progress, with calls for full legal protections for all LGBTQI+ people.

Trans Leadership

• Trans professionals in STEM & Law (engineers, lawyer) shared success stories despite discrimination.
• Lawyer Rome called out “Rainbow Washing” by companies that market Pride support without real inclusion policies.
  Key message: transgender talent proves competence, but systemic barriers must be dismantled.

Key Takeaways

• Inclusion is good for business – more innovation, talent attraction, and economic growth.
  Visibility matters – exhibitions, fashion, and volunteering create pathways for social change.
• Policy reform is urgent – marriage equality is not enough without gender recognition and anti-discrimination laws.
• Thailand is poised to be a regional leader in LGBTQI+ inclusion if momentum continues.

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• The 8th HERO Awards 2024 took place on 22 November 2024 at The Sukosol Hotel, Bangkok, hosted by the Embassy of Ireland to Thailand
• It brought together over 350 guests from more than 20 countries, including ambassadors and diplomatic representatives from ten nations. This gathering fostered crucial connections between community advocates, government bodies, private sector partners, and allies, reinforcing the theme of “Strength in Solidarity.”
• A major achievement was the introduction of the new “LBQ Hero” award category. This highlighted the event’s commitment to evolving and ensuring specific recognition for the outstanding contributions of Lesbian, Bisexual, and Queer individuals, whose work significantly improves the lives of LGBTQI+ people in the Asia-Pacific region.
• The event successfully created a platform that significantly amplified the work of the awardees, achieving an estimated public reach of nearly 80 million views through media coverage, press releases, and social media, bringing widespread attention to LGBTQI+ and HIV advocacy in the region.
• Beyond recognition, the event served as a fundraiser that directly contributed to strengthening grassroots LGBTQI+ communities. The funds raised helped provide immediate responses to community needs through the #APCOMpassion campaign, aiding the fight against discrimination, violence, and inequality.
• The event successfully continued into the night with the HERO Party BKK 2024, the official after-party. Themed “Unchain,” this circuit party served as both a vibrant, inclusive space for community celebration and a crucial fundraising arm, allowing a broader audience to contribute to the cause while honoring the achievements of the award recipients in a festive atmosphere.

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In 2025, we have launched our new strategic plan 2025-2030, RELENTLESS, ensuring that APCOM empowers communities to be able to continue working towards social change. RELENTLESS reinforced the importance of human rights, stressed the need for making changes in laws and policies and advocated for bringing people together around social justice, including governments, the UN system, donors and civil society.

As priorities for the coming years, APCOM will focus on four fundamental areas of work to create a better, healthy, and dignified everyday life for people of diverse SOGIESC in Asia and the Pacific:

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Want to browse through our previous Annual Updates?