The Suki Sandhu LGBTQI Asia Fund with GiveOut has been established to support LGBTQI human rights activism in Asia. 

Managed by the award-winning charity GiveOut, the Fund is generously sponsored by Suki Sandhu, a globally recognised expert in talent, diversity and inclusion. Suki is the CEO and founder of both Involve and Audeliss, two firms working to champion diversity and inclusion in business. He is a Stonewall Ambassador, a Patron for The Albert Kennedy Trust and has been appointed to the Board of Directors of OutRight Action International. In 2019, Suki was awarded an OBE in the 2019 New Year’s Honours for Services to Diversity in Business. 

Supporting LGBTQI activism in Asia

Across Asia, LGBTQI people face human rights abuses based on their sexual orientation and gender identity, from discrimination to violence. In several countries, including Myanmar, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore and Sri Lanka, same sex relations are criminalised. And in other countries, being LGBTQI is punishable by death. But LGBTQI activists are campaigning for change and having impact, with recent, uneven victories in the region for the rights of trans people, marriage equality and same-sex partnership rights.

We know that the challenges facing LGBTQI people in Asia are only being exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, as LGBTQI people are forced to quarantine in abusive family situations, and LGBTQI organisations struggle to secure the resources needed to support their communities and build for the future. Under the Suki Sandhu LGBTQI Asia Fund, we will continue to support activists and their organisations working across Asia to protect LGBTQI people and as they face this crisis.

Individuals and businesses can support the Fund by donating to GiveOut, which then makes grants to LGBTQI organisations working across Asia. Through a rigorous process of consultation, due diligence, and vetting with Suki’s input, GiveOut identifies grant partners under the Fund, which form part of GiveOut’s overall portfolio of grants to support LGBTQI human rights activism worldwide.  

How to donate

To give to The Suki Sandhu LGBTQI Asia Fund, click on the ‘Donate’ button above. Enter your donation details and include a message to indicate that your donation is intended to support the fund, e.g. “Asia Fund”.

You will be able to choose whether Gift Aid can be claimed on your donation by completing the Gift Aid Declaration, meaning GiveOut can claim an extra 25p for every £1 you give. It won’t cost you any extra as long as you pay more Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed.

To set up a standing order or to make a bank transfer to the fund, please email Rupert Abbott, GiveOut's Executive Director: rupert@giveout.org.

GRANT Partners SUPPORTED UNDER THE FUND

ASEAN SOGIE Caucus

Location: Southeast Asia

Focus: Grassroots LGBTQI groups

Website: aseansogiecaucus.org

ASEAN SOCIE Caucus (ASC) is a network of LGBTQI human rights organisations working across Southeast Asia. GiveOut’s grant supports ASC’s Supporting Capacity of Local LGBTIQ Activists initiative, which provides financial and technical support to local LGBTQI activists working across Southeast Asia to develop their advocacy capacity.

Coalition for Sexual & Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR)

Location: MENA/Southeast Asia

Focus: Amplifying voices through digital storytelling

Website: csbronline.org

CSBR is an international solidarity network that supports the integration of a holistic approach to sexual and bodily rights as human rights across Muslim societies in MENA, SSEA and Central Asia–through feminist knowledge building, strategic convenings, and activist capacity-building. 

EQUAL GROUND

Location: Sri Lanka

Focus: Decriminalisation of consensual sex-same relations

Website: equal-ground.org

EQUAL GROUND works to promote the equal civil, political, economic and socio-cultural rights of the LGBTQI community in Sri Lanka. LGBTQI people in Sri Lanka face discrimination at every level of society, with the Penal Code criminalising same-sex relations for men and women.

SAATHII

Location: India

Focus: Fellowship programme for grassroots activists

Website: saathii.org

SAATHII was originally established to meet the needs of the HIV+ population in India, but has since expanded its focus to support LGBTQI human rights activism. Despite the recent decriminalisation of same-sex relations in India, the situation for LGBTQI people remains challenging.