Community Organizers and Publications: Creating and Maintaining Safe Spaces

Our first session featured four speakers: Anan Bouapha (Proud to be Us, Laos), Raham Abyasa (Transmen Indonesia, Indonesia), Kuro Roi (Minory Agenda, Brunei Darussalam), and Arra Fonesca & Adolf Ximenez (KORIS Koletivu, Timor-Leste). Moderated by Fatima Qureshi and Fairuza Hanun, the discussion explores the intersections of community organizing, art, and publishing, emphasizing strategies for creating and sustaining safe spaces.

The speakers shared their experiences in integrating art into queer community organizing—whether through curating exhibitions, publishing independent zines, initiating collaborative projects, or embedding artistic approaches within state-sponsored development programs. They highlighted how art serves as a powerful tool for activism by incorporating local languages and cultural expressions that resonate with their communities. However, they also acknowledged the potential harms of extractive practices within community organizing, stressing the importance of ethical engagement and equitable collaboration.

As part of the conversation on safe spaces, the speakers reflected on their strategies for navigating cis-heteronormative environments, balancing visibility with anonymity, and fostering inclusivity within their projects. They emphasized the necessity of decolonizing their practices by ensuring fair participation and representation for all involved.

The discussion also underscored the value of learning through experience, embracing mistakes, and continuously reflecting on both potential harms and future possibilities. Recognizing that taking the first step is crucial, the speakers reinforced the importance of ongoing reflection and adaptation in building a just and inclusive environment, especially in the queer activism spaces in Southeast Asia.

This roundtable series, a collaboration between the ASEAN SOGIE Caucus (ASC)’s Southeast Asia Queer Cultural Festival (SEAQCF) and New Naratif, took place from 3-7 March 2025, offering an online space for queer artists, cultural workers, and community organizers across Southeast Asia to connect, share practices, and discuss common challenges.

Artist

Fatima Qureshi

Malaysia

A nomad of cultures, born in Hong Kong, rooted in Turkish-Pakistani heritage, and residing in Kuala Lumpur, Fatima’s love for narratives - both in reading and creating them - gave way to why she does she does today. With a communications and journalism background, Fatima learned to use words as tools for activism. Their stories resonate in five languages and transcend borders, embracing the universality of diverse lived experiences from the refugee and asylum seeker community in Hong Kong to the queer community in Malaysia. Fatima is currently the Forum Communications Lead at AWID.

Artist

Anan Bouapha

Lao PDR

Anan Bouapha is an internationally renowned human rights leader, and the founder of Laos’ first LGBTQI rights organisation. As the founder of Proud To Be Us Laos, Anan is dedicated to promoting equal rights for people within sexual and gender diversity communities. He is referred to by the HuffingtonPost as the leader of the country’s nascent LGBTQI movement. He is working to integrate LGBTQI rights into national development, tackling the cultural, legal and normative barriers facing the community. His work started in HIV/AIDS prevention, and has evolved to encompass broad political and policy advocacy across the field of inclusive development, leveraging international human rights frameworks. He brings the concept of diversity and inclusion at the workplace and continues raising awareness about this in Laos. Several major employers such as state enterprises, corporates, private enterprises collaborate and promote this concept alongside with his organisation’s advocacy campaign. Because of this, Proud To Be Us Laos was ranked in the Top 9 World LGBT Change Heroes by The Guardian.

Artist

Kuro Roi

Brunei Darussalam

Kuro Roi (Dia/He/Him) is a Human Rights Researcher and Founder of Minority Agenda based in Brunei, who bridges creativity, research, and advocacy to address intersectional issues. Their work highlights how the interconnected nature of these struggles can serve as a tool for solidarity, fostering community-building around shared goals and causes. Kuro Roi uses their platform to amplify marginalized voices and create meaningful, lasting impact. Through innovative collaborations and initiatives, Kuro Roi’s work has been showcased locally and internationally, reflecting a commitment to equity, systemic change, and representation. By combining creativity, critical research, and civic engagement, Kuro Roi continues to challenge societal norms and inspire transformative action for a more inclusive future.

Artist

Fairuza Hanun

Indonesia

Fairuza Hanun is a writer and program facilitator at Indonesia Writing Edu Center (IWEC). They studied Arts and Education at the University of Nottingham. They did a study and program on Not Knowing (dis-epistemology) and alternative narrative in childhood care, as a research participant at the Care Work rumpun studi in KUNCI School of Improper Education. Their work has also been published (some forthcoming) in multiple journals, including Shado Magazine CIC, Asymptote Journal, PR&TA Journal, wordgathering, and more.

Artist

Adolf Ximenes and Arra Foncesca

Timor Leste

Arra Foncesca and Adolf Ximenes collaborate closely in their roles, contributing to both KORIS and CODIVA, where they play vital parts in promoting human rights and artistic expression for the LGBTIQ+ community in Timor-Leste. Arra serves as a consultant at KORIS, where they provide strategic guidance and support for the organization's initiatives, ensuring that the artistic and advocacy programs align with the mission of inclusivity and creative empowerment.

Meanwhile, Adolf holds the role of Media Officer at CODIVA, overseeing communication strategies that amplify the voices of marginalized communities. Additionally, as a Zine Assistant at KORIS ZINE, Adolf works hands-on to create and distribute the zine, which serves as both an artistic platform and a tool for social change. Together, their combined expertise and passion for promoting diversity, creativity, and human rights strengthen KORIS's vision as a community space for storytelling and connection.

KORIS, short for Komunidade Ransu ho Istoria (Community Hanging Out and Telling Stories), is the artistic arm of CODIVA (Coalition for Diversity and Action), an organization dedicated to protecting and advocating for human rights, with a focus on the LGBTIQ+ community. The zine produced by KORIS gives a voice to these individuals, preserving their stories while fostering an environment of solidarity and creative expression.

Artist

Raham Abyasa Dirgantara

Indonesia

Raham Abyasa Dirgantara (He/Him) is a Campaign Officer at Transmen Indonesia, an organization dedicated to advancing the recognition and acceptance of trans men in society, while advocating for equal access to information and resources across Indonesia. In addition to his role in advocacy, Raham is a skilled graphic designer and aspiring illustrator, using his creative talents to amplify the voices and stories of the trans community. Trained as a facilitator, Raham is committed to empowering others through education and support, contributing to the broader movement for transgender rights and visibility in Indonesia.