Chitsanupong Nithiwana (Best)
ILGA Asia co-Chair
elected at the ILGA Asia conference in Ho Chi Minh City, December 2022

Founder and executive director of Young Pride Club, Chitsanupong "Best" Nithiwana (she/her) is a human rights defender for the rights of LGBTIQ+ youth and gender equality in Thailand.

Absolutely dedicated to her career path, she started out as a public information assistant consultant at the UN headquarters. She supported the digital campaign of Youth Peace Security to gain the meaningful participation of women and youth in peace processes worldwide. In 2018, she became the first transgender participant in the US Exchange programme, YSEALI Academic Fellows.

An outspoken advocate for the LGBTIQ+ community, she now runs her own community in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Young Pride Club, which is a safe learning community for young people interested in gender equality and the LGBTIQ+ community. Established in 2018, the community provides on-the-ground activities and online content to develop leadership and participation in gender equality advocacy. Young Pride Club was also a main organizer of the Chiang Mai Pride 2019-2022 and the 2022 Youth Pride Thailand, the country's first pride organized by LGBTIQ+ youth for LGBTIQ+ youth. In 2022, it reached over 40,000 followers and developed 50 young leaders across the country. 

Recently, Best also became an APCOM Hero Award Honouree (Community Hero) under the theme “Unity & Diversity '' in recognition of her inspiring work. 

organisation: Young Pride Club (Thailand)