LGBTQ Rights in Asia
LGBTQ rights in that part of the world range from one end of the spectrum to the other. For example, in some parts of Indonesia and Malaysia, courts not only deny LGBTQ rights; they subject men and women to caning for engaging in same-sex sexual intimacy. Meanwhile, same-sex marriage is legal in Taiwan, and Pakistan recently passed groundbreaking legislation to protect transgender rights. These are but a few examples that illustrate the vast expanse that separates Asian countries in terms of LGBTQ rights.
In his talk, Prof. Holning Lau will provide a snapshot of the situation in Asia. He'll discuss major recent developments and emerging patterns in the region; he will also talk specifically about the field work that he performed in Myanmar last fall.
Prof. Lau is the Willie P. Mangum Distinguished Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Faculty Development at the University of North Carolina School of Law. His research examines international and comparative approaches to legal issues concerning gender and sexuality. He teaches classes on Family Law, Comparative Constitutional Law, and Sexuality & the Law, among others.
Prior to joining the faculty at UNC, he was Associate Professor of Law and Co-Director of the LGBT Rights Fellowship Program at Hofstra University in New York. He has also held fellowships at the University of Hong Kong’s Centre for Comparative and Public Law, and at UCLA’s Williams Institute. Prof. Lau has spoken to us before, in June of 2016 and July of 2017.