Pride Month
is celebrated internationally, one of the most significant, annual events for
the LGBTQIA+ community. A celebration which dedicates and commemorates progress
towards inclusivity, equality, and diversity. Also, an opportunity to continue
advocating equal rights for all.
Dorjjanstan
(Jack) Ganbaatar is an Australia Awards Alumni 2019, health professional, and
LGBTQIA+ rights activist from Mongolia. Jack completed his Master’s in Public
Health at the University of Melbourne.
Jack
started his activism at 19, his identity a critical driver for passionately
creating a safe space, equity, and better health access for the LGBTQIA+
community. Over the years, he held various professional roles focussing on
LGBTQIA+ rights; serving as a National Consultant for the United Nations; and a
researcher, university lecturer, and Health Programme Manager at the LGBT
Centre, Mongolia’s first organisation dedicated to LGBTQIA+ human rights.
In 2018,
while working at the LGBT Centre, Jack met Australian volunteers who encouraged
him to apply for the scholarship and being selected as an Australia Awards Scholar
was a surreal moment. “It was one of the most memorable moments in my
life. My dream became a reality.”
Melbourne
became a second home for Jack, filled with friendship, fun, and love, and
facing the strictest lockdown during COVID-19. During the pandemic, Jack
continued his academic and cultural experience at home, enjoying coffee,
exploring the city when restrictions were eased, and even travelling to
Tasmania to visit another Mongolian Australia Awards Scholar.
As an
Australia Awards Scholar, Jack’s main accomplishment was establishing a strong
rapport with his supervisor, resulting in the publication of his research. His
research focuses on young queer Mongolians’ identities and experiences through
visual methods, using photography and community-based participatory approaches,
seeking to create a network providing accessible services to everyone.
Jack
encourages those interested in Australia Awards to attend events hosted at
their respective Australian Embassies to better understand the opportunity. He
appreciates the scholarship’s alumni network, connecting him with other
professionals.
Jack’s
dedication and passion for his work is remarkable. As we celebrate Pride Month
and reflect on our progress, we must also remember that much work still needs to
be done. Discrimination, violence, and inequality are still prevalent, and the
fight for the rights and equity of all people, regardless of who they choose to
love, must continue.
