10 LGBT's remarkable activities in Vietnam for 2012

Year 2012 is an exciting year especially for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community in Vietnam. There are many activities which aimed to unite the people and to fight for an equality right for LGBT community without any discrimination towards the people’s sexual orientation or gender.

There are a lot of campaign and LGBT oriented activities was organized in Vietnam such as the plan to revise the Marriage Law (same –sex marriage for homosexual), transgender right in Vietnam, dialogue between corporate, the Government, lawmakers and LGBT rights organization and many more activities.

1. The Revision Plan of Same Sex Marriage

The Vietnamese Government had officially on the go with the study to legalize the marriage between two people of the same sex. On May 2012, the Ministry of Justice had issued a written opinion letter on the legalization of marriage between two people of the same sex to the Social Issues Committee of National Assembly of Vietnam. On October 2012, the government‘s sectorial delegation had participated in the panel discussion, “Do the Law for your loved ones” as their practical exposure to learn about the LGBT community. On December 2012, the Ministry of Justice with collaboration with UN agencies in Vietnam had organized a seminar on “International Experience in Protecting the Right of LGBT People in Marriage & Family relations”.

2. Transgender People & The Right in Society

On August 2012, the first study about Transgender in Vietnam, “The Desire is to be you” was presented and had attracted attention of Vietnam lawmakers and media. On December 2012, a clip about transgender with title “pede” had attracted more than 300,000 views on YouTube.com with a lot positive comments and shared.

Besides, a Vietnamese celebrity, Nguyen Huong Giang had voiced out about accepting transgender to participate in Vietnam Idol, one of the American’s franchise singing competition in as a sign that art is always equal.

3. Advocacy & Protecting LGBT Rights

On June 2012, the parents of LGBT child had come out with a meeting to recommend and discuss about the way to protect the rights of law the LGBT. Besides, on December 2012, a conference had been organized with title “International Experience in Protecting the Rights of LGBT people in Marriage & Family Relations” to talk more about their children rights.

4. Same Sex Wedding

Series of same sex wedding in Ca Mau, Kien Giang and Binh Buong had been stopped. This sanction had attracted public attention continued by a  debate about the right of Kissing in public for LGBT.

5. “Be Yourself” Event

The “Be Yourself” events had been organized at varieties of Universities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. This event had attracted tens of thousands youth participation to share about LGBT community and the event was wrapped out with a very special concert at Opera House on 16^th September 2012.

6. LGBT’s “Love is Love” Flash mob

On September 2012, a LGBT flash mob with theme “Love is Love” was organized and received a massive respond from more than 1000 young people either from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. “Love is Love” come with idea to spread the message and awareness about love is for everyone and all should be equally to be love.

7. LGBT Pride 2012

The Vietnam’s first LGBT Pride had organized on August 2012 with presence of Vietnam’s LGBT community and media, especially international press. This pride is the stepping stone for Vietnam LGBT community to fight for the same sex equality and to join the worlds LGBT mission.

8. Hand in Hand Campaign

On August 2012, an event with theme, same-sex walking together hand in hand had attracted more than 1300 participants in Ho Chi Minh City.

9. The Pink Choice Exhibition – Love is Love

This event was organized in Hanoi on November 2012 by a women photographer, Maika Elan. This exhibition is about the life and love of LGBT couple and she took nearly a year to complete the project with participation of more than 70 couple from Nationwide’s LGBT community.

10. Gay theme Short Movie

International Short Film award ceremony, YXINEFF 2012 for the first time had awarded a Vietnamese directed Gay theme movie, “Dawn” as Best Film and this film as directed by a talented Vietnamese Director, Leon Le.  

Click HERE for more info and watching the the movie.

Year 2013 is coming real soon. We in LGBT community are looking forward for a positive change and to fight against discrimination and bullying towards the people.

Also read: The Weaving of Rainbow Flag in Vietnam

Photos by: ICS Vietnam