Taking place 5-7 August, the programming of the Amsterdam WorldPride Human Rights Conference is developed with input from activists and Pride organisers worldwide. Thank you to Stichting Pride Amsterdam, the Advisory Board and the International Sounding Board, which APCOM is represented on – of the Human Rights Conference who helped use their knowledge and networks to give everyone fighting for equal rights an unforgettable WorldPride Human Rights Conference.
“APCOM is grateful and honoured to be on the International Sounding Board, bringing our experience and expertise from Asia and the Pacific as an official community partner of the Sydney WorldPride Human Rights Conference in 2023,”
commented Midnight, APCOM Executive Director, he continued,
“as LGBTQI issues are facing severe backlash, we want this space to bridge cultural differences from diverse perspectives around the world, and demonstrate global solidarity as ‘UNITY’ is the theme of the conference.”
Three APCOM staff will be speaking at the Conference, which has four core themes’ Rights & Governance, Health & Wellbeing, Heritage & Culture, and Resources & Leadership:
- Marriage Equality – the Steps Ahead
- LGBTQIA+ Mental Health Solutions – Lightening Rounds
- The Digital World – Protecting our Health & Wellbeing through Apps and Digital Platforms
In partnership with Asian Pride – APCOM will join the world- famous Canal Pride on 1 August for an ‘Asian Pop’ theme. The Canal Parade is one of the largest public annual events in the Netherlands, drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators who line the bridges and quaysides to dance, celebrate, and cheer on the LGBTQIA+ community.
As part of our RELENTLESS strategy for LGBTQI+ economic and social inclusion, APCOM will also attend the Workplace Pride International Conference 2026 as workplace inclusion is no longer optional – it defines how organisations lead, innovate, and grow, and explore what it truly means to lead with inclusion in today’s complex and fast-changing world.
Road to Bangkok WorldPride 2030
As a member of InterPride, the international organization that brings together Pride organizers from across the world to network, share knowledge, and maximize impact, APCOM will be supporting Thailand in its bid to host the first WorldPride in Asia in 2030. APCOM is a member of Thailand’s Pride City Network, a nationwide coalition in Thailand uniting nearly 60 provincial networks of local Pride organisers, and as part of the bid there will be a ‘Thailand Reception Road to Bangkok WorldPride 2030’ hosted by Pride City Network of Thailand, in collaboration with the Royal Thai Embassy in the Netherlands and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB).
TCEB projects that WorldPride 2030 would generate approximately USD 713 million in economic impact, attract more than one million visitors, and create tens of thousands of jobs. Bangkok is a multifaceted metropolis capable of accommodating diverse travelers from around the world, and WorldPride 2023 serves as a pivotal period to reinforce the city’s role as a premier global Pride destination, transform the city, the economy, associated industries, and sustaining community-led leadership so that LGBTQI+ communities are not left behind.
On Saturday 8 August, APCOM will join the Amsterdam WorldPride March. The WorldPride March is much more than a parade. It is a powerful demonstration of visibility, solidarity and resistance. Together we show that everyone has the right to be themselves, love who they want and live freely, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
Sessions that APCOM will be speaking in
LGBTQIA+ Mental Health Solutions – Lightening Rounds
From Nepal to Peru, LGBTQI+ communities face unique mental health challenges, from stigma and criminalization to lack of support. This session brings together activists from different parts of the world to share community-driven initiatives: Nepal’s resilience strategies, Peru’s affirmative care ecosystem serving 2,000 people with 500 trained professionals, Southeast Asia’s landmark CBO capacity report, and Pakistan’s safe spaces like Mehfooz Daira. They explore how evidence-based, culturally grounded approaches can shift systems, scale sustainably, and foster global solidarity in hostile contexts. Each presenter will share the situation in their setting, followed by an interactive panel discussion.
APCOM will present the first regional assessment of community-based organizations’ capacity to deliver LGBTQI-inclusive mental health services across Southeast Asia. Drawing on evidence from four countries, the presentation will highlight how community organizations are already providing trusted mental health support despite limited resources, and explore what is needed to strengthen sustainable, community-led mental health systems. It will also introduce APCOM’s vision for expanding this work into a regional strategy that translates evidence into policy, investment, and inclusive mental health services.
Marriage Equality – the Steps Ahead
This session explores global strategies for advancing LGBTQIA+ rights. The session opens with a keynote on strategic litigation that secured marriage equality across the Kingdom of the Netherlands, including Curaçao and Aruba. After this, speaker Masuma Shahid analyzes European and American court cases. Lastly, a panel of activists from China, South Korea and Mongolia share their regional strategies and achievements in a panel. The session concludes with all activists responding, synthesizing how advocacy, litigation, and cross-regional collaboration can drive the global movement for marriage equality forward
Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize marriage equality, marking a historic milestone for the region. APCOM will reflect on the advocacy journey that made this achievement possible and explore what comes next beyond legal recognition. Drawing on Thailand’s experience and APCOM’s regional work, the presentation will highlight the importance of implementation, public awareness, inclusive policies, and continued collaboration to ensure that marriage equality leads to meaningful improvements in the lives of LGBTQIA+ people across Asia and the Pacific.
The Digital World – Protecting our Health & Wellbeing through Apps and Digital Platforms
Digital platforms can improve LGBTQIA+ health and wellbeing, from algorithmic influence to community-led innovation. This session features PlaySafe, TestXXX, RITA (Report IT Always), and Grindr for Equality, exploring how digital spaces can restore informed consent, drive HIV prevention and rights monitoring through frameworks like CODE Strategies, make unsafety visible via the Report IT Always campaign, and build trusted sexual health tools. Speakers share insights on e-prevention, community co-designed solutions for PrEP and testing, performance-based reporting, and user-centered design based on 18,000 community members’ needs to create safer digital environments.
Numan Afifi will present APCOM’s CODE Strategies (Community-led Online and Digital Engagements), which use technology to strengthen HIV prevention and advance equity for LGBTQI+ communities across Asia and the Pacific. Drawing on testXXX, APCOM’s regional, city-based HIV testing initiative, he will show how community-designed digital campaigns can reach younger and underserved communities, normalise HIV testing, increase PrEP uptake, and connect people with trusted, person-centred services. He will also introduce APCOM’s KeyPop App, a community-led monitoring tool that gathers community data to improve HIV and human rights programmes, strengthen accountability, and advance more responsive policies and services.
Meet the speakers
Midnight
Based in Bangkok, Midnight has been the Executive Director of APCOM since 2011, working in multi-sectoral partnerships with governments, donors, the United Nations, development partners and most importantly the community and civil society organisations working on advancing LGBTQI rights in the Asia Pacific region. In 2016, Midnight gave the Closing Plenary Statement at the 2016 High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS at the UN General Assembly. He was named an Obama Foundation Leader for Asia-Pacific in 2019, and a fellow of the Equity Initiative for outstanding professionals committed to advancing fairness and social justice in health. In 2020 he was a Gen.T honouree for advocating for the rights of LGBTQ communities in Asia, and also making the Future List 2020 as Thailand’s Human Rights advocate. Midnight obtained his Masters in Globalisation and Development from SOAS, University of London.
Naphat Krutthai (Jim)
Naphat Krutthai (Jim) is a transmasculine activist and researcher from Thailand, currently serving as Corporate Engagement and SOGIESC Inclusion Officer at APCOM Foundation. He works across Asia and the Pacific to advance LGBTQI+ health, human rights, and social inclusion by building partnerships with governments, businesses, civil society, and development partners. Naphat has contributed to regional research on LGBTQI+ mental health and sexual and reproductive health, and is a strong advocate for transmasculine visibility and equality. He is passionate about translating community experiences into evidence-informed advocacy and promoting inclusive policies that ensure no one is left behind.
Numan Afifi
Numan Afifi is APCOM’s Programme and Advocacy Lead. He began his civil society journey as a community organiser advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights and addressing HIV-related issues in Malaysia. With more than a decade of experience, his work has expanded across Asia and the Pacific, including roles with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy and ILGA Asia, as well as collaborations with UNICEF and UNDP. His professional interests include political inclusion and civic technology, particularly creating opportunities for marginalised communities to participate in decision-making and access digital tools for advocacy and empowerment.
Check out what APCOM did at previous WorldPrides
2023 Sydney,
Australia
2021 Copenhagen,
Denmark
Asia Pacific has both some of the harshest and most progressive LGBTIQ+ laws in the world.
In recent years there has been some wonderful wins – from same-sex relationship recognition in Taiwan, decriminalisation in Bhutan and Palau, intersex rights in India, to tackling conversion therapy and in Australia and NZ – but also alarming regression in some countries and stagnation on key human rights across large parts of the region. A life without fear of violence and state sanctioned discrimination remains out of reach for LGBTIQ+ people almost everywhere.
Hear from the brave activists at the forefront of these campaigns working to ensure LGBTIQ+ people are free and equal in rights and dignity.
The LGBTI+ Workplace Inclusion Day, taking place within the space of the Human Rights Conference of the WorldPride Copenhagen 2021, focuses on how to create workplaces where everyone can be themselves.
