On 1 March 2022 at the Sydney WorldPride Human Rights Conference, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced Australia’s first dedicated fund for LGBTQIA+ rights in Asia and the Pacific, the A$3.5m Inclusion and Equality Fund. She also announced the development of a first-ever dedicated Australian LGBTQIA+ human rights in foreign policy strategy. 

This announcement followed advocacy and engagement by Global Philanthropy Project (GPP), Equality Australia and a coalition of six regional LGBTQIA+ rights organizations: ASEAN SOGIE Caucus, ILGA Asia, Pacific Sexual and Gender Diversity Network, APCOM, Asia Pacific Transgender Network and Intersex Asia. 

In the lead-up to Sydney WorldPride, the coalition published Partnering with Pride: Partnering with Pride: The case for Australian action on equality in our region, with the report’s recommendations informing the government’s announcement. GPP continues to work with the coalition to ensure Australia fulfills its commitment as a leading funder to the LGBTI movements in Asia and the Pacific. 

Additionally, Global Philanthropy Project, in partnership with Aurora and GiveOUT, hosted the first-ever convening on LGBTIQ+ funding in Australia, Asia and the Pacific in advance of the Sydney WorldPride Human Rights Conference.

Resourcing LGBTIQ+ Movements for Change in Asia and the Pacific brought together leading LGBTIQ+ foundations, and donor governments focused on Asia and the Pacific, with the Australian philanthropic community, and provided a unique opportunity for the Australian Government to engage with the global LGBTI movements and those that resource it. The unique two-day program featured LGBTIQ+ funding and civil society experts from Australia, Asia and the Pacific and focused on developing strategies, sharing insights, and inventing new ways to work together and respond to crises and opportunities across the regions.

GPP continues to work with the coalition to ensure Australia fulfills its commitment as a leading funder to the LGBTI movements in Asia and the Pacific.