Pride, Courage and Belonging

Every June, Pride Month gives us a moment to listen more closely to the lives behind the rainbow; lives shaped by courage, family, friendship, rejection, hope and the simple wish to be accepted as oneself. 

In Lao PDR, the story of LGBTQIA+ communities is changing. It is a story of different generations, different provinces and different journeys, but with one shared message: LGBTQIA+ people are part of the fabric of society. They are students, artists, leaders, professionals, friends, children, parents and community members. They have talents, dreams, responsibilities and contributions to make.

For many, the journey began in silence. Years ago, growing up in rural areas often meant growing up without words to explain gender identity or sexual orientation. Information was limited, the internet was not always available, and many people only heard labels such as Kathoey or Tom, often used without real understanding.

Vilasai Thammavong, Founder and Executive Director of the Lao Child and Youth Development Association (LaoCYDA), remembers realizing his identity at the age of 11 in rural Savannakhet. At that time, he says, there was little access to information about LGBTQIA+ issues, and many children who expressed themselves differently faced teasing and mockery. 

Willie Xaiwout, a freelance artist from the Yuan ethnic group in Sayaboury Province, also remembers growing up in a remote area where knowledge about gender identity was almost non-existent. For him, access to social media later helped turn confusion into understanding and acceptance.

For Anoulack “Bill” Somphong, a proud trans woman, the challenge was not only social but also practical. She knew from a very young age that she wanted to be a girl, but when she was growing up, reliable information and proper health guidance for transitioning were difficult to find. Advice was often shared informally from older peers, and safe, appropriate medical support was limited. Her story is a reminder that access to accurate information and respectful health services matters deeply for the dignity, safety and well-being of transgender people.

Today, younger LGBTQIA+ people are growing up in a different environment. It is not perfect, but there are more spaces for connection, learning and support. Saiy Sadavout Souliyong, a 21-year-old International Relations student, found confidence through a youth-led volunteer group in high school. Being part of that community helped him understand that he was not “weird” or “abnormal,” but simply a person with the same right to belong, participate and be respected.

Still, acceptance does not always come equally from all sides. Many LGBTQIA+ people in Lao PDR feel more accepted by friends, colleagues or community groups than by their own families. Nho, a 22-year-old dancer and dance instructor, describes this painful reality clearly:” some young people can be welcomed in society, while still feeling rejected at home. The family, which should be a place of safety, can sometimes become the hardest place to be fully oneself.”

At the same time, family support can change everything. For Vilasai, his mother’s love and guidance helped him stay strong when others judged him. She encouraged him to focus on his education, become a good person and let his actions speak louder than prejudice. For others, when family acceptance was missing or limited, independence became a way to survive. Dew worked part-time during university, learned to take care of herself and carried many responsibilities alone. “If we got sick, we went to the hospital ourselves. If we needed money, we earned it ourselves,” she recalls. Her message today is gentle but powerful: “remember your own value, and do not let cruel words define your life.”

LGBTQIA+ people have also had to challenge narrow stereotypes about what they can do and where they belong. Dew remembers a time when many people assumed that gender-diverse people could only work in beauty salons, entertainment, cooking or sex work. She also experienced rejection in professional spaces, including being considered unsuitable for a tour guide role because of her gender identity.

But these stereotypes are being challenged every day. Willie uses photography to reflect social issues and open conversations. His photo series Once U-pond a Time uses the image of polluted water to speak about judgment, emotional harm and the need for society to extend a hand instead of pushing people further away. Vilasai has spent 16 years working with international NGOs and building LaoCYDA, showing that LGBTQIA+ people are capable leaders who contribute to youth development and social inclusion. Nho uses dance as her language. On stage and in the classroom, she does not ask for permission to exist. Her talent, discipline and confidence speak for themselves.

For Nho, LGBTQIA+ people should not have to spend their lives explaining or justifying who they are. “LGBTQ+ people are human beings just the same,” she says. Men and women are not asked to constantly explain their existence, so why should LGBTQIA+ people be expected to do so?

This progress is real, but it remains incomplete. Social acceptance is important, but it is not enough without protection, equal opportunity and access to rights. Saiy points to one of the biggest challenges ahead: LGBTQIA+ people are still not fully protected by policy or law, which can prevent them from fully accessing rights and benefits. For him, advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights is not about taking rights away from anyone else. It is about ensuring that every person, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, can live with equal dignity, equal opportunity and equal protection.

Dew also notes that while many NGOs and private sector spaces have become more inclusive, some environments still remain difficult for transgender people, especially when dress codes or gender-presentation rules do not recognize who they are. These barriers may look small to some, but they can deeply affect a person’s ability to study, work, serve the public and participate fully in society.

Across these different experiences, one message comes through clearly: LGBTQIA+ people are not asking for special treatment. They are asking to be treated as human beings. They are asking to be safe in their homes, respected in schools, welcomed in workplaces, protected by laws and valued for their abilities.

UNFPA’s support is rooted in this simple idea: no one should be left alone when seeking information, health care, protection or a place to belong. Through its collaboration with the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office, and by working closely with communities and partners, UNFPA helps foster safe and inclusive spaces where LGBTQIA+ people can be heard, supported, and treated with dignity. 

To young people who are still afraid, still questioning or still trying to find their place, the message from these advocates is one of courage and care. Find your community. Build your skills. Protect your mental health. Believe in your value. And as Nho says: “Go All the Way” — ໄປໃຫ້ສຸດ.

Because Pride is not only about one month. It is about creating a society where every person can live with dignity, contribute with confidence and shine without fear.