Cultural wars and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) rights in Southeast Asia: 'Asian values', human rights, and the 'homosexual turn'.

This article examines the evolving landscape of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Southeast Asia, focusing on the tension between emerging LGBT activism and the entrenched privilege of heteronormative family values framed as "Asian values." It explores this dynamic through three dimensions: rights framing, competition over resources, and political backlash, highlighting how LGBT movements navigate challenges such as the perception of LGBT rights as Western impositions, linguistic and cultural translation of terminology, and uneven access to funding and political support. Drawing on interviews with over 40 activists across the region, the article argues that rather than a "cultural war," these tensions represent developmental growing pains as Southeast Asian societies and nation-states grapple with recognizing LGBT identities amid complex historical, political, and social contexts. The study underscores the emergence of a regional LGBT identity and the strategic adaptations activists employ to sustain their movements within diverse and often repressive environments.