JALAN Civic Lab Joined the First Southeast Asian Regional Conference on Academic Freedom
Salaya, Thailand
As part of the First Regional Conference on Academic Freedom: “Reclaiming the Space”, JALAN Civic Lab organised a panel discussion titled “Pride and Prejudice: Young Southeast Asian Scholars Working on LGBTQ+ Research Amid Shrinking Civic Space.” The session highlighted the challenges, risks, and hopes of conducting LGBTQ+ research in Southeast Asia, where democratic backsliding and shrinking civic space have placed increasing pressure on academic freedom.
Moderated by Matt Yutthaworakool, Executive Director of JALAN Civic Lab and PhD Candidate in Gender and Development Studies at the Asian Institute of Technology, the panel brought together emerging scholars from across the region to share their experiences navigating institutional, political, and cultural constraints in their research on gender and sexuality.
The panellists, Jazreen Harith (Malaysia; PhD Candidate in International Development Studies, Chulalongkorn University); Renz Prudenciado (Philippines; PhD Candidate in Gender and Development Studies, Asian Institute of Technology); Sarah Geraldine Wullur (Indonesia; MA Graduate, Faculty of Communication Arts, Chulalongkorn University); and Arthur (Myanmar; MA Candidate in Human Rights and Democratisation, Mahidol University) discussed their motivations for pursuing LGBTQ+ research, the challenges they face in restrictive environments, and the perceptions they encounter from peers, families, and institutions.
Their diverse works explore themes such as sustainability in the Boys’ Love (BL) industry, masculinities in disaster contexts, queer communication strategies, and the intersections of religion and LGBTQ+ acceptance.
Throughout the discussion, panellists shed light on how political repression, rising conservatism, and digital surveillance have affected academic inquiry and the safety of young researchers. Despite these obstacles, they also shared stories of resilience and solidarity, underscoring how informal networks, digital collaboration, and community-based engagement sustain critical scholarship in the region.
The session concluded with reflections on the importance of collective resistance and hope, reaffirming that defending academic freedom and advancing LGBTQ+ rights are interconnected struggles essential for building inclusive and democratic futures in Southeast Asia.
The First Regional Conference on Academic Freedom: “Reclaiming the Space”, held on 3–4 November 2025 at Mahidol University, brought together scholars, activists, and policymakers from across Southeast Asia to confront the growing threats to academic freedom and democratic discourse. Organised by the Southeast Asia Coalition for Academic Freedom (SEACAF), the conference highlighted how censorship, surveillance, and shrinking civic spaces continue to undermine intellectual autonomy in the region. Through keynotes, plenaries, and panel discussions, participants explored strategies for reclaiming universities as spaces for critical thought, open inquiry, and collective resistance, affirming the power of regional solidarity in defending the right to learn, teach, and question freely.
JALAN Civic Lab is proud to have joined the Southeast Asia Coalition for Academic Freedom (SEACAF) as a coalition member. Through this partnership, JALAN Civic Lab reaffirms its commitment to promoting academic freedom, inclusive knowledge production, and the protection of intellectual and democratic spaces across Southeast Asia.
If you are interested in future thinking on any topics related to civic, climate, digital, and data democracy, we would love to collaborate. Contact us at: jalanciviclab@gmail.com
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