Awareness of gay issues in S'pore: A political perspective
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It was unfortunate that the earlier thread on gay issues had degenerated into a flame wars between the Christians and non-Christians, which detracts us from seeing the more fundamental issue we were discussing.
I had started this new thread, in hope that the discussion will revolve around gay issues in our country, without going into religion.
Whether you are pro-gay or anti-gay, please do not venture into the discussion on theology. Thank you for your co-operation. -
Comes August, when the Nation celebrates our own 40th anniversary, gays from different walks of lifes, co-incidentally organised closed-forums to discuss gay issues.
I do hope that these events will go smoothly as planned.This year, there'll be no Nation Party in Singapore. Instead, there'll be IndigNation, a collection of events to celebrate Pride Month.
IndigNation is a gay community response to the unreasonable ban on parties for gays and lesbians and heavy censorship of publications serving this community. The events in the IndigNation calendar are contributed by various organisers to Singapore's Pride Month. It is a demonstration of the initiative and spirit of grass-roots civil society that the authorities say they want to encourage, but then go out of their way to suppress. -
Event 1
Cerita Budak-Budak (Children's stories)
by Martin Loh
Martin Loh, openly gay artist known for his male erotic and Peranakan paintings, enters the genre of book illustrations for the first time. Martin's work - colourful, naive fantasies - was used to illustrate the book Malaysian Children's Favourite Stories, and will be exhibited as a part of IndigNation. -
Event 2
Same-Sex Love In Classical Chinese Literature (Mandarin)
by Dr Tan Chong Kee
Dr Tan Chong Kee, who has conducted extensive research into Chinese civilization, challenges the notion that same-sex love is contrary to Asian culture. He traces and explores various ancient classical Chinese texts on same-sex love to demonstrate that same-sex love has been an integral part and parcel of Asian life. -
Event 3
Contra/Diction– A Night With Gay Poets
It is time we recognized that gay people make significant contributions to life and society in Singapore. Much of our arts scene would come to a standstill if not for these gay men and women. And yet many of our most talented performers have had to remain closeted or ambiguous for fear of having their livelihoods threatened.
But things are changing. Come for a night of poetry where some of our openly gay and upcoming poets read you the beautiful words they have penned birthed from within the ecstatic, the agonies and even the mundanities of their lives and discuss with you how their sexual orientation impacts their works as poets. Wine and snacks will be served. -
Event 4
Art exhibition: Solitary Desire
Ong Jenn Long and Steve Chua
Solitary Desire is a 2-artist exhibition, featuring works by Ong Jenn Long and Steve Chua, both young, emerging talents.
Ong's works gives a sense of mystery, evoking the audienceÂ’s imagination through the clever execution of light and shadows. The seductive visual style of his works tempts the audience to examine the subject closer and leaves it entirely to their interpretation.
Chua's graphic design background is significant in his works as they reflect modern day consumerism and the effect of commercials. His intention is, in Chua's words, to "focus and deal with the notion of desire / image / identity", and the effect of consumerism upon the self. -
Hmm, why is it that so many artists are gay/lesbian and vice versa? I find it quite intriguing.
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Event 5
Where Queens Ruled!
A History of Gay Venues in Singapore
By Russell Heng
Today we head to the internet and a cluster of clubs, saunas and Maxwell Market to be with one another. But where did gay men and lesbians go before? What was gay life like 40 years ago? Where exactly did queens go to reign? Come and hear activist, academic and out gay man Russell Heng share his walk through gay history in Singapore. -
Event 6
A Safehaven Forum
Sex and the Christian Gay Person
In a world where there are so few models and much suppression of open discussion, it is pretty hard to figure out just how Christian gay and lesbian persons should live as sexual beings? Is only sex after marriage permissible? But we aren't allowed to marry! How do I re-connect with my body, which I have rejected all these years? I feel guilty each time I feel sexual. Is sexual experimentation acceptable? And then what about relationship models – is monogamy the only option? What about recreational sex for the single gay person? If sex is not just for procreation, why not just recreate? Come and hear our panel of straight and gay persons (which include a retired bishop and a newly married gay man) share their views and answer your questions. -
Event 7
Exploring Paul, Homosexuality and the Romans
– An Intensive Workshop on Biblical Interpretation
by Center for Reflexive Theology
The issue of what St. Paul taught about homosexuality has become one of the most divisive theological issues of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The Center for Reflexive Theology (CRT) is pleased to announce a series of lay workshops on methods of Biblical interpretation using PaulÂ’s statements on homosexuality in Romans. We will start with a textual analysis of Romans in August exploring what the text of Romans itself says. In following months, the CRT workshops will focus on an historical analysis of ideas and concepts that influenced St Paul, followed by a contemporary reading of Paul and ending the series with a summary of various approaches to PaulÂ’s view of homosexuality. The objective of the workshops is not to defend or speak against homosexuality but to explore how to approach an ancient text so that it can remain relevant to the 21st century. Come and be enriched. -
How do you intend to approach the 'GAY' issue from a 'Political Perspective' when the very core of the subject is about 'VALUES', 'MORALES' and about 'MORALITY' - all of which are social and religious issues ?
Is being 'GAY' a sickness of the mind itself, a birth defect, a medical condition ?
Is there any 'POLITICAL VALUES' in being 'GAY' ?
Will being 'Gay' impact the POLITICS of societies - other then causing disruption in the value systems between groups, classes, and communities ?
Is there any 'VALUES' - at all - in being 'GAY' ? -
Event 8
The Inaugural Quarterly Forum
40 Years of Independence: The National and The Personal
by Alex Au
Singapore was born from contention. Our short period in Malaysia 1963-1965 was marked by racial tensions and riots. Has this made our society oversensitive to contentious social issues and identity politics? Do we overreact to differences of opinion? Does our history warp our perception of cosmopolitanism that we only see ethnic cosmopolitanism and no other dimension, rendering us blind to the social forces of the future?
About the Quarterly Forum: This is not a forum about being gay. ItÂ’s a forum about being Singaporean and what gay and lesbians have to say about nationhood in matters important to both straight and gay people, issues that burn our Singaporean hearts. It is about building a place we can call home. -
Event 9
Theatre production: Boys
'Boys' is a new Chinese-English bi-lingual theatre project by Richard Chua, after Lover's Words - a play about heterosexuals in a homosexual society. This is an extension of Richard Chua's belief that life should be led honestly and truthfully. In his quest to further meditate on love between people (in this case, between 3 boys of twenty-something), he has embarked on this project to push his collaborators to work in a space where they have nowhere to go, but to clean. Cleaning is an essential task that will bring these boys to the next phase of eternity. The story is about love. Love that seems to be defined differently by different people, with different perspectives, resulting in different outcomes. Each boy has a love story to tell. This original production is growing as rehearsals get underway. Picture notes will be made and archived on a website to chart each boy's journey before the season opens. -
Event 10
SixXX! - The Sixth Annual Adlus Bash
IndigNation closes with a party. Not Nation but IndigNation with AdlusÂ’ SixXXX!
Adlus is SingaporeÂ’s lgbtq outdoors and sports group promises and Xciting Xtreme Xperience at their annual Adlus bash. Not hotbod beefed up body is needed for this party (though it would be nice) just come in your berms, let your hair down and have a great time amongst friends. Keep that night free! As the Adlus anniversary is a private by-invitation only event please write to Nick for an invitation. -
Originally posted by earthlings73:
earthlings,
[b]A Safehaven Forum
Sex and the Christian Gay Person
In a world where there are so few models and much suppression of open discussion, it is pretty hard to figure out just how Christian gay and lesbian persons should live as sexual beings? Is only sex after marriage permissible? But we aren't allowed to marry! How do I re-connect with my body, which I have rejected all these years? I feel guilty each time I feel sexual. Is sexual experimentation acceptable? And then what about relationship models – is monogamy the only option? What about recreational sex for the single gay person? If sex is not just for procreation, why not just recreate? Come and hear our panel of straight and gay persons (which include a retired bishop and a newly married gay man) share their views and answer your questions.
[/b]
I really wish to refrain from commenting on the issue of gay sex. However, I do have to say that Safehaven has got a few things definitely wrong. Even if the Bible has no definite words against homo-sex, it definitely speaks out against recreational sex and sex before marriage, and yes, definitely against polygamy, even for heterosexuals. Thus, unless Christian uniques (to use the more politcally correct term) are not meant to follow the instructions of the Bible, which strangely enough means rejecting Christianity as a religious belief, then I suggest that you ignore this entire forum.
FYI, recreational or casual sex is the alrgest spreader of AIDS in developed countries, including Singapore.
well-wishes,
the pikamaster -
Is this a thread for your declared intention to discuss the topic of 'Gay Issues - from a POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE ?
Or is this a cheap approach to advertise the 'news and events' in deference to your own leanings towards 'GAY ISSUES' ? -
Psychologists studying personality has demonstrated that human personalities can be described using the big-5 model: Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, (argh.. Cant remember the other 2)..Originally posted by iveco:Hmm, why is it that so many artists are gay/lesbian and vice versa? I find it quite intriguing.
gays have constantly demostrated a higher level of Creativity, which is linked to Openness..
I have a gay friend doing his Phd who suggested that Cognitive Dissonance might be the core to this heightened level of Creativity.. -
Gd afternoon pikamaster,Originally posted by pikamaster:earthlings,
I really wish to refrain from commenting on the issue of gay sex. However, I do have to say that Safehaven has got a few things definitely wrong. Even if the Bible has no definite words against homo-sex, it definitely speaks out against recreational sex and sex before marriage, and yes, definitely against polygamy, even for heterosexuals. Thus, unless Christian uniques (to use the more politcally correct term) are not meant to follow the instructions of the Bible, which strangely enough means rejecting Christianity as a religious belief, then I suggest that you ignore this entire forum.
FYI, recreational or casual sex is the alrgest spreader of AIDS in developed countries, including Singapore.
well-wishes,
the pikamaster
To be honest, I'm not very sure of their stand.. I guess they are just bringing up certain issues.. As far as I know, they also support Monogamy within the gay community.. Hence, they might conclude with a Monogamy stand.. This is especially when they invited straights to participate in this forum..
Personally, being a non-christian, I will not participate in that discussion myself.. But I find the quarterly foum rather interesting.. -
My first thot of these events:
1) The gay community is a pretty diverse entity. There are many other groups ard searching for meanings in life through other means. But here, we see a wide range of activities catering to the Arts, Religions and even Sports.
2) I fear a backlash in a certain way. Is this the best way to show our Indignant? At the end of the day, who cares about the Nation party when we can't even have sex without being criminalised? But then, application for PLU had been rejected for no less than 3 times, maybe this is the only way moving forth. To reach other gays, to educate other gays about issues related to us. And hopefully, to help spread to message of Monogamy..
3) Yah, where's AFA?
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Originally posted by Atobe:
Just reported all the above events to the authorities...they are monitoring
[b]Is this a thread for your declared intention to discuss the topic of 'Gay Issues - from a POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE ?
Or is this a cheap approach to advertise the 'news and events' in deference to your own leanings towards 'GAY ISSUES' ? [/b] -
err.. This piece of news can already be found on the internet, try yahoo Singapore.. It's even found in Malaysia's newspaper through AFP as the source..Originally posted by oxford mushroom:Just reported all the above events to the authorities...they are monitoring
And, I have no intention to help promote these events as I had intentionally avoided mentioning the time and venue..
It's time to move away from the "let's go catch a few gays" mentality.. Else the society will not move forward and this issue will never be solved.. -
Pornography can also be found on the internet, .......they are monitoring.Originally posted by earthlings73:err.. all the above can be found on the internet.. it's even found in Malaysia's newspaper.. -
ah.. dont quite get what u r saying..Originally posted by sgdiehard:Pornography can also be found on the internet, .......they are monitoring. -
Just to illustrate how even the police had moved away from "let's go catch a few gays" mentality.. Entrapment was used in the early 90s.. but such tactics were abandoned gradually as the society matures.. But then, the issue still is, when can gays be fully recognised as rightful citizens who will be given equal rights?Originally posted by earthlings73:It's time to move away from the "let's go catch a few gays" mentality.. Else the society will not move forward and this issue will never be solved..
Entrapment
In the early 1990s, there were increasing reports of homosexuals being caught while cruising by police entrapment tactics.
William Peterson, in his essay, The Queer Stage in Singapore, detailed one of the most notable instances which
… took place in November 1993, when 12 men were nabbed in an anti-gay operation in Tanjong Rhu, a known gay cruising area. Good-looking, young police officers from the Geylang Police Division Headquarters, locally known as ‘pretty police’ were used to entrap the men. The names, ages and occupations of the arrested men were reported in the press, along with descriptions of the encounter. According to the Straits Times, in one instance, the accused was said to have “chatted up a special constable, before proceeding to caress his buttocks and chest.” Another man who stood accused stated that “the guy [an officer] had approached me and smiled, so I walked over to chit-chat with him.” He maintained that the officer then suggested that they go into the undergrowth to have sex. Once physical contact was made, each man was arrested and charged with “outraging their victim’s modesty.” (Straits Times, 23 November 1993:19). The occupations of the arrested men ranged from butcher to (then) Singapore Broadcasting Corporation producer. Of the 12 arrested, 6 pleaded guilty immediately, receiving sentences ranging from two to six months in jail. All were given three strokes of the rotan cane, a beating that results in permanent scarring of the buttocks. -
Okay, this might be old news.. Transferred from the other lock thread.. Such a change in the policy does help the gay community little.. Hmm, should I invest in private property?
July 20, 2005
change in singapore private housing policy advantageous to gay couples
By News Editor
Eased restrictions on property financing and foreign home ownership will benefit same-sex couples who are planning to jointly purchase private residential properties using their pension funds and foreigners looking to buy private homes in Singapore.
Thirty-something couple, Jann and Wei, who have been together for two years were ecstatic when the Government announced that two non-related parties can now jointly purchase a private residential home using their Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings or pension funds.
“We’ve been mulling over buying a condo unit together for some time but have been unable to do due to previous restrictions on using both our CPF monies,” Jann said. “It’s wonderful that we now utilise our CPF funds as not being able to do so would really limit our options.”
In a surprise announcement on Tuesday, the Government revealed that two non-related parties such as same-sex couples can now jointly purchase private residential properties using their pension funds as a longstanding rule that prohibits non-related parties from using their CPF savings jointly in the purchase of private properties was lifted.
The move is part of its package of policy changes relating to the property market announced by Singapore Minister of National Development Mah Bow Tan in parliament.
Previously, only joint owners who are immediate family members (i.e., spouse, children, siblings and grand-parents) may utilise their CPF monies in the purchase of a private property. Same-sex couples who wished to finance their property jointly could only do so if they were both unmarried Singapore citizens, 35 years of age or above and purchased a Housing & Development Board (HDB) or public housing flat from the open market.
The measure attracted garnered some debate. According to the Singapore Business Times, Ho Geok Choo (West Coast GRC) asked in parliament if the new CPF ruling went against the Government's 'pro-family policy' and if making CPF savings available to non-related singles for buying private property would "promote homogenous gender or heterogenous gender" partnerships.
National University of Singapore Environmental Management Programme director (School of Design and Environment) Dr Malone-Lee Lai Choo, said in reply, "If people want to live together, they don't need to buy their own property to do it."
The longstanding rule that only single citizens who are at least 35 years old can purchase a HDB flat from the open market remains unchanged.
The new regulations would also permit foreigners to buy apartments in non-condominium developments with fewer than six floors in addition to condominium units – although they will still need approval to buy landed property.
As there appears to be no restriction on the use of CPF savings by non-Singaporeans, it is expected that non-related singles, Singaporean or not, would be allowed to use their CPF savings to jointly purchase private residential property.
Foreigners seeking permanent residency (PR) status can now invest up to S$1 million (US$590,000) in a private residential property as part of the S$2 million they need to invest in the city-state to be considered for PR, provided he meets other conditions.
Under the revised regulations, buyers will be able to borrow up to 90 per cent of the total purchase price instead of the previous 80 per cent for both private and public residential properties. Cash downpayments will be cut to five per cent from 10 per cent, with the remaining paid from the buyer’s CPF account. For HDB flat buyers, the cash downpayment now at four per cent – which was originally planned to reach 10 per cent in 2008 – will be capped at five percent from 2006.
Buyers can now tap on their CPF savings to buy properties with remaining leases of between 30 and 60 years. Previously, buyers could not use CPF funds to buy 99-year leasehold properties with less than 60 years left on the lease. CPF withdrawal limits for the purchase of such properties will however be pegged to the age of the purchaser and the remaining lease of the property to ensure that an owner will not outlive his property, based on the average human lifespan of 80 years.
Nearly all the policy change will come into effect immediately.
Property-related stocks on the Singapore stock exchange soared to multi-year highs yesterday as analysts called the move an effort to revive one of Asia's most sluggish markets.
Mah however maintained that revising the policies was “neither to boost nor depress the property market” but changes “from time to time is necessary to ensure their continued relevance to broader social and economic objectives” and to “improve structural rules” and “functioning of the property market.”
Observers say gays and lesbians living in Singapore will greatly benefit from the change in regulations, especially the large number who are in long-term relationships. Now that they are newly eligible to combine their incomes and CPF to purchase private residential property, developers and those selling their property are likely to see a spike in gay and lesbian couples shopping for their first home. This will apply across the board to all classes of property, from economical to high-end luxury developments, as there is a broad range of income levels in the gay and lesbian community.
In 2001, Fridae polled its gay and lesbian members residing in Singapore. Of the 595 respondents, 39 per cent declared that they were "attached" or "living with partner." Furthermore, 40 per cent of the respondents who were in relationships have been with the same partner for more than six months at the time of the survey.
The same survey revealed that a high proportion of respondents lived with parents, while only 22 per cent indicated that they own or rent their homes. This is despite the relatively high income levels of the respondents, with 50 per cent earning more than S$80,000 (US47,00) per annum – 20 per cent reporting income levels of more than S$180,000 per annum, 11 per cent between S$120,000 to S$180,000 and 19 per cent between S$80,000 to S$120,000.
The low percentage of home ownership is thus likely a direct result of regulations that have until now restricted non-related singles from jointly owning private or HDB property.
Some 80 percent of the 4.5 million people in the city-state live in public housing. Ninety-three percent of the population owns a home – the highest ownership level in Asia.