A new project to protect and advance lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) rights in Cambodia was announced today by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).  “We are the Same” – awarded to Media for Education and Development in Action (Media One) – will support a variety of advocacy and awareness raising activities to strengthen LGBTI rights in Cambodia.  The project underlines the U.S. government’s commitment to LGBTI rights as key components for supporting human rights both in Cambodia and worldwide.

“I am very proud that the U.S. government is supporting efforts to protect the rights of the LGBTI communities at home and abroad,” said U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Julie Chung.   “Projects such as ‘We are the Same’ reflect our commitment to eliminating barriers to equality, and fighting discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity.”

Because of stigma and fear, almost one third of LGBTI Cambodians have never come out and more than one-fifth wish they were straight, according to survey results released in December 2015 by the Rainbow Community Kampuchea.  The two-year “We are the Same” project will improve LGBTI individuals’ and groups’ access to information and communication resources.  It will also support the LGBTI community through social media and a mobile service directory platform.

About the U.S. Agency for International Development

USAID was founded in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy and serves as the lead agency of the U.S. Government for foreign assistance. Since 1992, USAID has invested over $1 billion towards Cambodia’s development.

About Media for Education and Development in Action (Media One)

Media One was founded in 2012 as a non-partisan, independent NGO working to address the need for more inclusive media and more equal information access in Cambodia. MEDIA One creates customized media and outreach solutions that address the country’s most critical development challenges.