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Queer Asias Research Lab is a self-organized platform for research collaborations and innovations by queer and trans scholars and activists whose works focus on “Asia” and “Asian diasporas.”
About Us
Queer Asias Research Lab (QARL) provides a self-organized platform for research collaborations and innovations by queer and trans scholars and activists whose work focuses on “Asia” and “Asian diasporas.” We use “Asias” as a method and rubric, rather than as a geographical location, to foster solidarity and mutual learning among and across our members located in continental and archipelagic Asia and in diasporas around the globe.
As wars, environmental crisis, ongoing conflicts, rising authoritarianism, fascism, widening economic inequalities, and religious conservatism continue to impact the lives of queer and trans people in Asia and beyond, now more than ever, we demand bold proposals, creative interventions, and transnational collaborations.
This platform is convened by: Maisnam Arnapal (University of California, Santa Barbara), Dr. Trung M. Nguyen (Oregon State University, US), Dr. Naveen Minai (Wesleyan University, US), Dr. Ferdiansyah Thajib (FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg), and Dr. Ian Liujia Tian (Mount Saint Vincent University, Canada).
Our Goals
- Offer a collaborative space for emerging scholars and activists to share their work, network, and plan collaborative research.
- Create collaborative opportunities across local and international LGBTQ+ organizations to support queer and trans movements within queer Asias.
- Address regional hierarchy within queer Asian studies by showcasing less visible regions and countries to disrupt dominant research agendas in the field.
- Decolonize knowledge production of gender/sexuality by amplifying critical voices from queer and trans individuals and communities who theorize from their own locations and experiences.
Activities
QARL includes four components:
1. an annual virtual public speaker series that features three emerging scholars and activists in an academic year;
2. two virtual workshops for members per year;
3. a monthly newsletter;
4. whenever feasible, an in-person gathering in conjunction with relevant academic events (e.g. Inter-Asian Cultural Studies Conference, AAS in Asia conference, The International Convention of Asia Scholars (ICAS), National Women’s Studies Association).
Join the research lab!
To become a member, please sign up below. You will receive updates as part of the listserv.
Open archives
Digital ephemera collection - Online archive
Digitized flyers, event posters, and historical pamphlets documenting queer Asian activism in Europe and beyond.
Oral narrative recordings - Audio repository
An ongoing open collection of spoken memoirs, narratives, and community reflections preserved for future generations.
Queer bibliography database - Open library
A curated reference catalog containing key monographs, articles, and artistic works in queer Asian scholarship.
Community research papers - Public access
Working papers and essays published by emerging researchers and activists working across artistic disciplines.
Community resources
Curriculum syllabi bank - Downloadable PDF
Adaptable class reading lists, seminar schedules, and lecture prompts for higher education and independent learning.
Grassroots organizing toolkit - Digital guide
Practical guides outlining best practices for community care, archival preservation, and inclusive event facilitation.
Queer arts and culture directory - Resource index
A verified contact list connecting scholars with queer Asian creatives, grassroots translators, and collectives worldwide.
Mentorship and reading exchange - Community network
Structured peer matching for scholars and creative researchers navigating academia and cultural institutions.
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