LGBTQ+

The Journalist Training Programme of 2022 has begun!

As an investigative reporter, I believe that all subjects are important and those that receive less light are even more important. The lives of LGBTQ+ people are often hidden because it is difficult to live those lives in most places, even where it is supposedly culturally accepted. It is our job as reporters to shed light on things that are hidden or that people choose not to see, to bring understanding and perspective to stories of lives that intersect with complex socio-political, environmental, economic, and religious realities. As a queer person, I want these stories to be told safely, thoroughly, and with passion.

I found myself worn out, yet also fascinated by the power dynamics in the white-collar office setting. I resonate with the stories of other queer workers who had to hide their identity and endured hostile situations in order to get by, as I have been there myself.

My partner Tung Le and I applied to FNF's training program because it's one of the rare opportunities where emerging reporters have the luxury of resources, time and mentorship to work on a story. This year's program has an LGBT focus and that's even rarer. We reckon that it's the perfect time to get started on the story of LGBT people in the workplace, specifically in Vietnam's public office. It's an underreported angle while we know for a fact that homophobia is still a genuine issue albeit existing in subtle forms.

I found this program as a golden ticket to my future self especially when it comes to starting my early career path. A chance to get mentor and guide through is priceless as my article in this program will be my first publication. After this program, I hope to be able to confidently call myself as a journalist.

LGBTQ+ people are the people around me, I am attending this program because I want people to know about the situation they are facing now. LGBTQ+ people are discriminated badly in Myanmar. It is important that we understand what kind of discrimination they are facing. I like to expose their problems hoping this is can help reduce discrimination in the dark.

I applied because I have an unfinished story about the LGBTQ+ and disaster response, so this was the right opportunity to pursue the story.

Collaborating with Mavic on this story is also part of my personal commitment to uphold the Sustainable Development Goal 17 - partnership for the goal and just like what my nickname ‘Ally’ means, I see myself an ally, a supporter of the LGBTQ+ community in pushing for their civil rights to be recognized and be given equal access to economic and social benefits. My personal mission is to accelerate inclusivity and diversity in our local communities through powerful stories.

Telling underreported stories is always an incredible challenge, one that constantly requires us to open our minds and expand our skill sets. However, it is an endeavour worth pursuing if it means helping communities achieve social justice in one way or another. That's why I'm so grateful for this opportunity to receive generous mentorship, training and support as Chi and I report on the experiences of queer women.

I always thought that writing for and about queer people required a little rebellion from the status quo — in the sense that when you intentionally set out to champion a minority group in your work, you want to do their story justice. This is why when I encounter a well-written and well-researched story about queer people, I feel grateful for the journalist(s) who got it right. Because many others have already gotten it, wrong. This is especially true for queer women who often endure the most of both homophobia and misogyny. I also see gender and sexuality as one of the most valuable dimensions in a person’s life. Sometimes it shapes their life trajectory. That is important for me to remember in my work as a journalist.