Queer Literature: Navigating Literary Spaces and Publications

The second roundtable series was moderated by Ng Yi-Sheng, with Bonnibel Rambatan as the discussant, featuring Khan Aiden Nguyen, Mark Anthony Cayanan, Kukasina Ayesha Kubaha, and Nurdiyansah Dalidjo. The discussion explored queer literary and publishing spaces, moving beyond the binary of mainstream versus independent publishing. The speakers highlighted how queer writers navigate these spaces, including academic circles, while also addressing the visibility of voices from non-central regions. They also examined the intersections between queer women's writing and feminist literature, emphasizing the nuances of reading between these genres.

The conversation extended to the role of genre—both as a literary form and a mode of publication—in carving out space for queer writers and narratives. The speakers also discussed how state-led publishing policies influence the distribution and framing of queer literature. In Vietnam, for instance, all publications must undergo government assessment, which directly impacts the circulation of queer narratives. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, obtaining ISBN registration and publication permits for queer-related books is tightly controlled and restricted, posing significant challenges to visibility and access. In other regions, such as Thailand and the Philippines, queer writings often need to align with broader narratives—such as nationalism or activism—to gain recognition, making it difficult for queer writers to simply write queer stories on their own terms. These state-imposed and capitalist-influenced constraints not only dictate what gets published but also influence how queer literature is disseminated and received.

Additionally, the speakers explored the potential of online book publishing as an alternative space for queer literary expression. They also highlighted the urgent need for translation efforts to foster cross-regional connections, enabling Southeast Asian queer literature to be shared, understood, and engaged with beyond national borders.

The discussion was enriched with a barrage of book recommendations, including works by Chrysanthemum Tran, Hieu Minh Nguyen, Jes & Cin Wibowo, Norman Erikson Pasaribu, Ng Yi-Sheng and Chuckberry Pascual. The speakers also highlighted the importance of zine culture in queer publishing, recommending the works of @london.proj, @wedogood.rso, @vagabonzine, and @sprblooom.

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

Kukasina Ayesha Kubaha

Thailand

Kukasina Ayesha Kubaha is a translator, writer, (aspiring) curator and dreamer of better worlds. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Hamburg, where she is pondering on the question of the archive and how to build a counter-archive of Queer Women in Thailand's Deep South through literature, film and contemporary art.

Artist

Mark Anthony Cayanan

The Philippines

Mark Anthony Cayanan (they/them) is based out of Angeles City, Philippines. They are an Associate Professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman. Their poetry books are Narcissus (Ateneo de Manila UP, 2011), Except you enthrall me (U of the Philippines P, 2013), and, most recently, Unanimal, Counterfeit, Scurrilous, which was published in Australia by Giramondo in 2021 and in the Philippines by the U of Santo Tomas Pub House in 2024. Their fourth poetry book, Miracle Fever, is forthcoming from Northwestern UP in 2026. Poems have appeared in, among others, Kenyon Review, Bennington Review, Indiana Review, and Australian Poetry Journal. A former Fellow of the ICI Berlin Institute for Cultural Inquiry, they obtained an MFA from the University of Wisconsin in Madison and a PhD from the University of Adelaide, where they received the 2021 Doctoral Research Medal.

Artist

Khanh Aiden Nguyễn

Vietnam

Aiden is an art producer, community organizer, and entrepreneur who uses art as a platform to unite and uplift the LGBTQ+ Vietnamese community. Aiden is best known for co-founding Vănguard and the Queer Vietnamese Film Festival. Outside of art and community, Aiden cares deeply about energy equity and climate issues. Vănguard is a publishing house and creative production company dedicated to promoting LGBTQ+ and femme Vietnamese artists, and bringing Vietnamese art to the world.

Artist

Ng Yi-Sheng

Singapore

Yi-Sheng is a Singaporean writer, researcher and activist. He has edited anthologies such as GASPP: A Gay Anthology of Singapore Poetry and Prose, Sanctuary: Short Fiction from Queer Asia, and EXHALE: an Anthology of Queer Singapore Voices. He has worked with activist groups such as IndigNation: Singapore’s Pride Season and the ASEAN SOGIE Caucus. In 2021, he served on the advisory board of the inaugural SEAQCF. His website is ngyisheng.com, and he tweets and Instagrams at @yishkabob.

Artist

Nurdiyansah Dalidjo

Indonesia

Diyan is an interdisciplinary queer writer, researcher, & author who has contributed to the Jurnal Perempuan, Jakarta Post, Overland, Project Multatuli, & many others. Diyan has published two travel writing books that explores the tourism dynamics and history of colonialism in the Indonesian archipelago. As an activist, Diyan also writes various essays traversing a lot of intersectionalities regarding environmental, historical, cultural, tourism, and queer issues, including a series of essays about important trans women figures in the history of the LGBTIQ+ movement in Indonesia “Sang Mami” and also “Queer di Masa Lansia” (Queer Elder Redefining Aging).

Artist

Bonnibel Rambatan

Indonesia

Bonnibel Rambatan is a transfeminine nonbinary writer and artist passionate about finding new possibilities for solidarity and liberation. They currently serve as Head of Product at New Naratif, a movement for democracy in Southeast Asia, and Director of Arts and Creative Expression at Rainbow Panda, a community for the welfare of queer and trans children in Asia.