SoundOut is a podcast from GiveOut, sharing voices of LGBTQI activism from around the world.

Join host Dan Vo and the GiveOut team to hear stories from our grant partners, providing a unique insight into the global movement for LGBTQI human rights. Crossing five continents, we will hear from activists working to support their communities and campaign for change in places where LGBTQI people face discrimination, criminalisation, and serious human rights abuses.

New episodes of SoundOut are released bi-monthly, and are available across podcast streaming services including Spotify and Apple Podcasts. You can also listen to all of our episodes below.

14. LGBTQI Ukraine Appeal - Lenny Emson

23 November 2022

Following Putin's invasion of Ukraine in February,  GiveOut activated our LGBTQI Emergency Fund to support OutRight Action International’s fundraising appeal responding to the situation. Through this appeal, funds are being distributed to LGBTQI organisations in Ukraine and neighbouring countries to enable them to provide emergency shelter, humanitarian assistance and other vital support to LGBTQI people in Ukraine and those forced to flee.  

On this episode of SoundOut, host Dan Vo and GiveOut’s Executive Director Rupert Abbott are joined by Lenny Emson, a Ukrainian LGBTQI activist and the Executive Director of Kyiv Pride, and Amie Bishop, OutRight’s Senior Research Advisor, to discuss the work that this support has made possible and what still needs to be done do to support LGBTQI Ukrainians. 

13. LGBTQI Legal Aid Fund - Jayna Kothari

4 August 2022

For this special episode of SoundOut, we share with you the highlights from the launch of our LGBTQI Legal Aid Fund, through which GiveOut is working with leading law firms to support organisations using the law and courts to advance equality. One of these organisations is the Centre for Law and Policy Research, whose Executive Director, Jayna Kothari, spoke to GiveOut trustee Daniel Gerring about how law firms can support LGBTQI human rights.

After the panel discussion, host Dan Vo spoke to lawyers from the Fund’s founding sponsors Travers Smith, Latham and Watkins, and Allen & Overy as well as Jayna Kothari and GiveOut’s Executive Director Rupert Abbott about the event and the importance of this Fund.

12: LGBTQI Climate Fund: Lee Dibben

22 April 2022

Happy Earth Day! In Episode 12, we celebrate the return of Lee Dibben, who joins us to talk about the things that GiveOut are doing to mark Earth Day this year. Plus some additional clips from Ryan Joseph Figueiredo from Equal AF and introducing GiveOut Communication and Events Coordinator Luke Smith. 

11: Raise UP Rise UP: Baroness Liz Barker

Released: 8 March 2022

Happy International Women’s Day! On this special episode of SoundOut, Dan Vo and GiveOut’s Philanthropy Officer Lucy McMenamin discuss ways to support LBTQ women and the importance of building a community of women supporting women.

Dan and Lucy then introduce our Raise UP, Rise UP event from September, hosted by GiveOut trustee Baroness Liz Barker, in support of three brilliant organisations, UHAI, Pink Armenia and Tongas Leitis Association, as well as a special fireside chat between Lady Phyll and Amber Hikes.

10: LGBTQI Afghanistan Appeal - Kimahli Powell

Released: 20 December 2021

In Episode 10, to mark our Crisis and Community campaign, in episode 10, Dan Vo and Claire Tunnacliffe join Geffrye Parsons, a GiveOut trustee and Managing Director at Macquarie Group, to discuss how support from our community and corporate allies has made an impact on the lives of LGBTQI Afghans.

We then listen to GiveOut’s Lucy McMenamin in conversation with Rainbow Railroad’s Executive Director, Kimahli Powell, for an update on the situation in Afghanistan and the need for ongoing support.

9: Pride with Purpose - Lord Browne of Madingley

Released: 02 September 2021

Happy Pride Season! In Episode 9, host Dan Vo and GiveOut's Executive Director Rupert Abbott recap the Pride With Purpose report launch which featured Lord Browne of Madingley as well as speakers from Iraqueer, UHAI EASHRI, Latham & Watkins LLP and Standard Chartered Bank.

8: LGBTQI Climate Activism - Emme KrisTi, JFLAG

Released: 22 April 2021

Happy Earth Day! In Episode 8 Dan Vo and Lee Dibben speak with Emme KrisTi, Consultant on Climate Justice at J-FLAG, the leading human rights and social justice organisation working for LGBTQI people in Jamaica.

Emme tells us about the ground-breaking research being pioneered by J-FLAG to understand how their community is engaging with the climate crisis. Through surveys and focus groups they are gathering evidence on the attitudes of LGBTQI people towards climate change, the current impacts of the crisis, and on emergency provisions for the community. The findings will be used to shape J-FLAG’s work in this area and will provide vital evidence for LGBTQI organisations around the world looking to join the movement for climate justice.

Plus Kathleen MacLean from founding corporate sponsor EV Energy joins us to talk about the launch of GiveOut’s world-first LGBTQI Climate Fund to support activists working around the world to help tackle the climate crisis.

7: Celebrating Women’s Activism - Rosanna Flamer-Caldera, EQUAL GROUND

Released: 8 March 2021

In Episode 7, to celebrate International Women's Day Dan Vo and Lee Dibben look at women's activism in the LGBTQI movement. We’re joined by Pippa Dale, founding ambassador of LBTQWomen, and GiveOut trustee Rosanna Flamer-Caldera, who is the Founder and Director of EQUAL GROUND in Sri Lanka. Rosanna tells us about her journey into activism, and how she is campaigning for legislative change in Sri Lanka through EQUAL GROUND and as the chair of The Commonwealth Equality Network.

6: Reflecting on 2020 - Elliot Vaughn, Founder & Chair of GiveOut

Released: 28 January 2021

In Episode 6 we do a spot of time travelling and return to a chat that host Dan Vo had late last year with the GiveOut team looking back on a tough year for everyone and sharing our hopes for 2021.

We were joined by GiveOut’s Founder and Chair Elliot Vaughn, Executive Director Rupert Abbott and Grant-making Officer Claire Tunnacliffe. And we also heard reflections from some of GiveOut's Grant Partners, including Amir Ashour from IraQueer, Alexus D’Marco from the United Caribbean Trans Network, Sebenzile Nkambule from The Other Foundation and Vikram Sahai from the Centre for Law and Policy Research. Plus, we welcomed a very special guest - Bob the Unicorn!

5: Trans Awareness Month in Jamaica - Renae Green, TransWave

Released: October 29 2020

In Episode 5, host Dan Vo and GiveOut's Supporter Engagement Officer Lee Dibben speak with Renae Green, Director of Policy and Advocacy at TransWave, Jamaica’s first non-profit organisation dedicated solely to promoting the health and wellbeing of trans, gender non-conforming and intersex communities.

Renae tells us about how Trans Awareness Month will be celebrated in Jamaica, including marking Trans Day of Remembrance coming up on Friday 20 November 2020. Renae also tells us about the Trans Emergency Fund and other essential work on mental health and wellbeing.

Plus Antonia Belcher joins us to talk about the Antonia & Andrea Belcher Trans Fund with GiveOut, which was established to support the trans movement globally, ensuring that trans activists and organisations have more of the resources they need to defend their communities and campaign for change.

4: Solidarity & Activism Across Muslim Societies - Rima Athar, CSBR

Released: 24 September 2020

In Episode 4, host Dan Vo and GiveOut's Supporter Engagement Officer Lee Dibben speak with Rima Athar, Coordinator at the Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR) an international solidarity network which advances the integration of a holistic approach to sexual and bodily rights as human rights across Muslim societies.  

Rima tells us about how CSBR is helping to amplify LGBTQI voices across outh Asia, South East Asia, Central Asia and North Africa through digital storytelling. Rima also tells us about the communities of care that CSBR is creating in the region to respond quickly to calls for food, medicine and essential services among the LGBTQI community through their Resilience Seed Grants programme.

Plus Suki Sandhu joins us to talk about the Suki Sandhu LGBTQI Asia Fund with GiveOut, and how businesses can support LGBTQI human rights worldwide.

3: Media Activism in Iraq - Amir Ashour, IraQueer

Released: 27 August 2020

In Episode 3, host Dan Vo and GiveOut’s Grant-making Officer Claire Tunnacliffe speak with Amir Ashour, founder of IraQueer, to learn about how the organisation is working to challenge anti-LGBTQI hate speech in the mainstream Iraqi media.

Amir tells us about how IraQueer is providing safe house refuges for LGBTQI individuals during the pandemic, his own personal journey as a refugee, and shares his thoughts on the the role of young people in the fight for human rights following Iraq's October Revolution in 2019.

Plus Tag Warner from Gay Times, sponsor of Amplifund with GiveOut, joins us to talk about supporting LGBTQI media activism around the world and Gay Times’ new “It can happen. It does happen. It will happen.” campaign.

2: Fighting for Equality in South Africa - Steve Letsike, Access Chapter 2

Released: 30 July 2020

In Episode 2, host Dan Vo and GiveOut Grant-making Officer Claire Tunnacliffe visit Pretoria to speak with Steve Letsike, Director of Access Chapter 2, to find out about how her organisation is providing essential support to the LGBTQI community in South Africa.

Steve tells us about how the values of fair play she learnt as a young soccer player have shaped how she thinks about teamwork today in the fight for equality, how Access Chapter 2 is doing vital work in challenging conversion therapy, and her thoughts on the organisation's extraordinary work during this crisis.

Plus Steve Wardlaw, sponsor of the Emerald 50 Fund with GiveOut drops by to talk about the Fund and his relationship with Access Chapter 2.

1: Lockdown & Pride in Indonesia - Lini Zurlia, ASEAN SOGIE Caucus

Released: Jun 25, 2020

In Episode 1, host Dan Vo and GiveOut Grant-making Officer Claire Tunnacliffe zoom to Jakarta to speak with Lini Zurlia, Advocacy Officer for ASEAN SOGIE Caucus, about LGBTQI life under lockdown in Indonesia and how additional support is needed for the LGBTQI community right now. GiveOut’s Executive Director Rupert Abbott also drops by to talk about the COVID-19 LGBTQI Global Solidarity Fund.

Lini tells us about her religious background and overcoming challenges, what Pride looks like in Indonesia, how cultural narratives from Indonesia can help raise awareness and support for the LGBTQI rights movement now, and how LGBTQI activists must stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.

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