Create Story Through Cellphone: Lao Dance

Short Documentary | 4’57”

This short film follows Mon Keovankha, a male Lao dancer, as he navigates stigma around his art while pursuing a self-funded college degree in art and culture. Through dance, he shares his dream of creating a space for teaching and connection. The project was developed during the "Create Story Through Cellphone" workshop, led by Proud to Be Us Laos in collaboration with the German Embassy. Team members, including the organization’s founder and project officers, facilitated recruitment, training, and coordination, empowering LGBTI community leaders with skills to craft creative short films. Mon, the film’s protagonist, gained valuable experience through the workshop and continues to engage with future advocacy initiatives by Proud to Be Us Laos.

Artist

Proud to Be Us Laos

Lao PDR

Proud to Be Us Laos (PTBUL), Laos’ first LGBTI rights civil society group, has become the leader of the Laos’ nascent LGBTI movement, advocating for discrimination free sexual health services, educational institutions and equal employment through policy dialogue with government partners. PTBUL has been able to positively navigate the challenging environment and operate within a space slowly opening to represent citizen voices. For example, PTBUL successfully coordinated with Lao government stakeholders to hold Laos’ first and second pride events, highlighting the potential of working with the Lao government to achieve economic and social development goals. PTUBL was also invited by the Lao government to participate in the National Youth Development Working Group, which provides stakeholders an avenue to address youth related issues such as equal health services among youth LGBTI and underrepresented youth. These are a positive sign for the development of Lao civil society and illustrate the increasing willingness of government ministries to engage with NPAs.

Proud To Be Us Laos (PTBUL) is the first LGBTI rights movement in Lao PDR, established in 2012 as a Non-Profit Association working openly in advocating for the rights of LGBTI (under the Lao context and direction). Amongst its missions to improve LGBTI rights and recognition, PTBUL makes a focus on addressing inequality at the workplace and school. In 2018, PTBUL published the first research in the Lao PDR titled “Being LGBTI At Work” in collaboration with the Faculty of Law and Political Science – National University. This political advocacy drew the attention of several CSOs, INGOs, and influential government enterprises such as Beerlao, Lao Telecommunication, and Électricité du Laos involved in this historic initiative. The advancement of the law towards a non-discrimination and inclusive framework requires further collaboration amongst CSO partners, civil society, and enterprise and support from neutral political actors and like-minded government partners such as the National University and some ministries. This also complements the first-ever LGBTI rights-based recommendations that the Lao PDR received from the UN members states: Iceland and Malta at Universal Periodic Review 2020.

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