The Pretty Good Podcast Youth Series spotlights youth advocates leading initiatives related to digital rights across the Asia-Pacific. In this series, young changemakers interview fellow youth to share best practices, exchange ideas, and draw inspiration from each other’s efforts in advocating for internet freedom and safeguarding digital spaces. Through candid conversations, we explore the innovative ways young people are tackling pressing digital rights issues and shaping a better future for the region.
In this episode, we speak with Chanatip Tatiyakaroonwong, Regional Researcher for Laos and Thailand at Amnesty International, and Neha Gauchan, a Nepali art activist and freelance consultant who also runs the creative space Chyoki Studio. Together, they reflect on recent progress and persistent gaps in LGBTQ+ rights in Thailand and Nepal.
In 2024, Thailand passed a gender-neutral marriage equality law, and in 2025, it officially became the first Southeast Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage. While hailed as a landmark victory, Chanatip notes that it’s just one step. Broader systemic change is still needed. From discrimination against trans communities to growing digital threats, queer lives in Thailand remain at risk despite legal progress. Additional stories like this feature by Hardstories offer deeper insights into this reality.
Nepal, meanwhile, has yet to legalize same-sex marriage, though a 2023 Supreme Court ruling allows temporary registration for queer couples. Still, full rights and protections remain elusive. Neha shares how artists and activists in Nepal use digital platforms to build safer spaces and push back against systemic erasure, as reflected in pieces like “There Is No One Single Story to Pride” and The Record’s exploration of transgender rights.
Across both countries, the guests highlight how online spaces have become essential for queer expression and activism, especially when offline spaces remain inaccessible. But with greater visibility online comes vulnerability, from doxxing and harassment to state surveillance. As Chanatip and Neha explain, queer rights advocacy must go beyond legal wins to ensure genuine safety, representation, and dignity.
Watch or listen to the episode to learn how youth activists are reclaiming digital spaces, resisting corporatized Pride narratives, and organizing for a more inclusive and intersectional future. For further reading, check out this UN Women report on digital advocacy across the Asia-Pacific.
