Mongolian LGBT Center Greetings

Greetings all!
I am pleased to formally announce that after nearly three years of fighting, the Mongolian LGBT Centre NGO has finally been officially registered and the registration certificate finally handed over to us.
Our small band of courageous LGBT activists began this journey in early 2007 - and it has been an extremely difficult, frustrating, and at times demoralising, road to victory.
There have been many setbacks, many struggles, and many emotional highs and lows. We have encountered the worst of prejudices and condemnation along the way.
But we have also made many new allies, both locally and internationally, who have supported our efforts and worked on our behalf to help make this happen. This was, of course, the first of many battles that we will fight in our work to create a safe environment for Mongolia’s persecuted LGBT community - socially, legally and politically - but it is an important one.
We are the first LGBT human rights organisation in Mongolia. And we will be the first to stand openly and proudly for the rights of our brothers and sisters who live in fear every day.
This would not have been possible without the support of such wonderful people as;
- Em Gil from Forum-Asia who worked tirelessly on our behalf throughout this year and who took our case all the way to Geneva, and to whom we will always owe a debt of gratitude;
- Oyungerel egch - the Presidential Adviser on Human Rights and Civic Participation - who directly intervened on our behalf with the state registration agency;
- Oyunchimeg egch - National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia Commissioner - who also intervened on our behalf with the state registration agency;
- The team from Human Rights Watch in New York, who publicly campaigned on our behalf and who petitioned the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs;
- The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, who also publicised our fight and petitioned the MoJHA; - The wonderful gang at Hands Up 4 Your Rights who launched a petition on our behalf and who should give everyone hope for the future of Mongolia;
- Naranjargal egch from Globe International who took up our cause with the state registration agency; - The individuals and organisations around the world (who are to0 many to name) who heard of our plight and launched countless petitions globally for the MoJHA and the registration agency;
- Undarya at MONFEMNET, who gave us the opportunity to be panelists at last month’s NGO legal reform workshop, which proved the turning point in our fight; - The team at IWRAW Asia-Pacific, who stood behind us and gave us space for international recognition of our issues;
- The team at Labrys in Kyrgyzstan;
- The team at Trans House in Ecuador;
- The Latin American and Caribbean Committee for the Defense of Women’s Rights in Ecuador; And to all those whose names or organisations I might have inadvertently omitted, our heartfelt thanks. This is an important step forward for all of us here in Mongolia. Let us hope that we will continue to make many more such steps in the years to come.

Best wishes,
The LGBT Centre board:
Robyn Garner (Executive Director)
Tsedendemberel Otgonbaatar (Chairman)
Anaraa Nyamdorj
Altangerel Baldangombo
Jackson Cox