Queer Eye for Progress: RICE-AKIN Pride event recap!
. . .Last 28 June, our Singapore office hosted our annual #PrideMonth event with AKIN!
This year, we focused on progress. Colleagues from all our offices joined us over Zoom to delve into updates on LGBTQ+ rights in places like Hong Kong, Australia, Thailand, Myanmar, Singapore and the Philippines.
So…why are we looking at progress? To help us become educated about a situation, promote solidarity and allyship, and empower us to make tangible contributions to the betterment of the community.
We then had an engaging discussion dubbed “Just so We’re Queer,” where we explored questions like “What does Pride mean to you?” and unpacked assumptions about the queer community.
Afterwards, we kicked off a fun skit! Inspired by (the real) UN CEDAW reporting structure, the UN B-GAY (United Nations Body for Groups of All You-niqueness) is a fictional initiative exploring very real facts.
Picture this:
- The UN BGAY consists of a group of experts on LGBTQ+ issues. Collectively, they are known as U-COPE (Universal Collective for Pride and Equality).
- U-COPE holds regular review sessions where both governments and NGO representatives update the committee on the progress made in promoting and protecting LGBTQ+ rights.
- Governments often report that everything is great! However, NGO representatives provide a more critical perspective, highlighting issues that may have been overlooked or inadequately addressed by the government.
We had our lovely colleagues (who definitely joined by choice) to act out as U-COPE members, government and NGO representatives, making it an insightful and entertaining event!
Curious about how countries are doing in their progress for LGTBQ+ rights? Check out our TL;DR Pride Special issues:
