http://www.bangkokpost.com/en/300605_Outlook/29Jun2005_out52.php
First international conference of Asian 'queer' studies comes to Bangkok
ALONGKORN PARIVUDHIPHONGS
Next week Bangkok will play host to one of the world's largest gatherings of
scholars, human rights activists, artists and film-makers involved in
researching and documenting Asian lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered,
transsexual, bisexual and queer (LGBTQ) cultures.
The 1st International Conference of Asian Queer Studies will be held at the
Ambassador Hotel from July 7 to 9.
Jointly organised by the Australian-based AsiaPacifiQueer Network and Mahidol
University Office of Human Rights Studies and Social Development, the
conference aims to develop links between research about Asian LGBTQ cultures
and communities, to promote recognition and respect for sexual and gender
diversity in the region and to build links between the Asian academic community
and gay and lesbian NGO rights organisations in the region.
"We need accurate information on the real situations of Asia's queer
communities in order to provide the best help and assistance to all the
lesbian, gay and transgendered communities in Asia," says the Australian
conference co-organiser, Associate Professor Peter Jackson of the Australian
National University in Canberra.
The conference organisers use the word "queer" in both its current senses.
"Queer" is both shorthand for the full diversity of homoerotic, transgendered
and trans-sexual behaviours, identities and cultures as well as a term
describing critical forms of theory that draw on post-structuralist and
post-colonial analyses.
A parallel goal of the conference is to support and defend the academic
legitimacy of research and teaching about LGBTQ peoples in Asia.
"Many Asian universities are extremely conservative institutions. While many
younger scholars want to research this region's queer communities, they are
often stymied by anti-gay professors who refuse to permit research into these
topics," says the professor, noted among Asian scholars for his gay studies.
He notices that academics who study gay, lesbian and transgendered cultures
often suffer the same sorts of homophobic discrimination as gays and lesbians
themselves.
"In Western universities, students can study courses in gay and lesbian
history. I am not aware of such courses in Asian universities. We want to show
the extremely conservative academic communities of Asia that gay, lesbian and
transgendered studies are an internationally important and significant field of
research and inquiry," he says.
The three-day seminar is divided into three categories: rights, culture and
health. Topics to be discussed include social persecution and legal
discrimination against sexual minorities in Asia; gay, lesbian and
transgendered citizenship and rights; homosexuals and transgendered people in
Asian cinema and literature; the globalisation of homosexual cultures; Asian
homosexual diasporas in the West; and the impact of HIV/Aids on Asian same-sex
communities.
The legal recognition of sex-change will be discussed by speakers from across
Asia, including Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Iran.
Homosexual women's issues will also be highlighted, with representatives from
lesbian organisations from Japan, China, the Philippines, India, Thailand and
other countries presenting panels on the rights of women who love women.
Since its call for papers last October, the committee has received more than
220 applications from researchers and academicians from across the world. About
30 percent of presenters are from Western countries, mostly Australia and the
US with some from England and France. The remaining 70 percent of papers are
from Asia scholars, mostly younger postgraduate students.
"We were both stunned and overjoyed. The size of the conference is a clear
indication of the rapid growth of Asian gay, lesbian and transgendered studies
both in Asia and the West," Jackson said.
The status of LGBTQ Studies in Asia is changing, he added.
"In the past Asian scholars often relied on ideas and theories from American
and European researchers. However, in the past few years I have detected a
greater self confidence among Asian scholars to develop their own locally
attuned analyses and interpretations of their own societies. I think in the
years to come that research from Asia will have a growing impact in the West as
well," he said.
The keynote speaker from Thailand will be Professor Vitit Muntabhorn of
Chulalongkorn University, who will speak on the topic "Sexualities, Genders and
Rights in International Law: Implications for the Asian Region".
Professor Josephine Ho of Taiwan's National Central University, who established
the Centre for the Study of Sexualities, Asia's first academic institute, will
give a talk called "Is Global Governance Bad for Asian Queers?"
The committee determined that in terms of travel access, Bangkok was the most
convenient and cost effective location in Asia in which to organise an
international conference. From the cultural perspective, the committee also
felt that Bangkok's world famous gay and trans-gendered cultures made this city
a highly appropriate location.
"Bangkok is a relatively gay- and lesbian-friendly city in Asia and it has been
important for us to have a friendly atmosphere in which we can openly discuss
these topics," he says.
Jackson adds that academic researchers have an important role to play in
promoting Asian queer rights by conducting studies that get beyond the
stereotypes and tell us the facts of gay and lesbian life in Asia.
"My personal hope is that this conference will demonstrate to Asian
governments, academics and the media in the region that Asia's queer societies
have genuinely 'arrived'.
"Gays, lesbians and the transgendered are an important section of all Asian
societies who deserve respect and honour."
Those wanting to register should send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
. The registration fee is 600 baht for a one-day session or 1,500 baht for the
whole three days (250 baht and 600 baht, respectively, for students). For
confirmed papers and abstracts visit
bangkok2005.anu.edu.au/documents/papers.pdf. For more information, contact Joe
on 01-689-4572.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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