What with the "wear white" campaign against Pink Dot 2014, and the hullabaloo over LGBT-friendly books in the National Library, the objecting parties against "normalising homosexuality" have grown in number and volume. The debate has been heating up, in various forums, in mass and alternative media. I have been both saddened and disheartened by this.
But.
It just occurred to me. The voices against the LGBT community have grown louder. In response to the ever-increasing volume of the LGBT community and their supporters. Which can only be a good thing, really. With more debate comes more awareness. With more awareness, hopefully comes more support. Eventually, there might even be change. For the better, for equality, for love.
I'm not holding my breath just yet, not here in Singapore with its antiquated ideals and laws. Not with the Prime Minister saying "Why is [Section 377A] on the books? Because it's always been there and I think we just leave it." (Which, ugh, angers me so much, but that's an argument for another day...) The same Prime Minister who thinks that "we have also been right to adapt, to accommodate homosexuals in our society, but not to allow or encourage activists to champion gay rights as they do in the West." He also claims that "it's really best for us to just leave [gay rights issues] be, and just agree to disagree. I think that's the way Singapore will be for a long time."
With The Powers That Be making such public declarations, what hope do we have?
We have plenty of hope. We have more reason to hope than ever. What with the colonial-era Section 377A being challenged in court, what with the Pink Dot movement growing in leaps and bounds, with noted Singapore celebrities speaking out (e.g. Ivan Heng, about his marriage to his partner of 18 years), we now have voices. And our voices are being heard. Not just in our tiny city-state, but around the world.
What a time to be alive!
Waves are being made. The boat is being rocked. The tide is turning. The winds are changing. The metaphors are being overused.
And the times, they are a-changin'.
Showing posts with label lgbt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lgbt. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Supporting the Freedom to Love
In 2011, I attended my first Pink Dot event. Last year, I attended the first Pink Dot light-up.
This year, I stood up with the biggest Pink Dot crowd since its inauguration, and I'm so very proud to be a part of this. I've been an unofficial volunteer, just showing up and helping Misstsy and others to give out fans, give out torches, give out pink cellophane paper and tape, pick up trash after the event...
5 years of Pink Dot, and I'm proud of the little progress we've made. Baby steps, people. Baby steps. We'll get there...eventually.
I was quoted in an online news article too, but I can't link to it here...because it uses my real name. ;)
 |
| no longer just a 'dot' |
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Everyone Deserves to Love and Be Loved
Today I stood up for the freedom to love, with 10,000 Singaporeans, and was surrounded by all kinds of awesome.
Pink Dot SG is a non-profit movement started by a group of individuals who care deeply about the place that LGBT Singaporeans call home. It is a group for everyone, straight and gay, who support the belief that everyone deserves the freedom to love. With openness and acceptance, we hope to bring LGBT Singaporeans closer to their family and friends. (from Pink Dot's facebook page)
In 2009, the inaugural Pink Dot, held at the same venue, saw 2,500 people in attendance. In 2010, this figure nearly doubled, to 4,000. (from Pink Dot's blog)
I don't expect attitudes to change overnight, for taboos and discrimination to be dissolved any time soon. But baby steps are being taken. The fact that support for Pink Dot SG has been increasing so much, that so much awareness is being created proves that. Today marked a page in Singapore's history, and I'm so glad to have been a part of it.
 |
| more of a pink blob than a dot |
Pink Dot SG is a non-profit movement started by a group of individuals who care deeply about the place that LGBT Singaporeans call home. It is a group for everyone, straight and gay, who support the belief that everyone deserves the freedom to love. With openness and acceptance, we hope to bring LGBT Singaporeans closer to their family and friends. (from Pink Dot's facebook page)
In 2009, the inaugural Pink Dot, held at the same venue, saw 2,500 people in attendance. In 2010, this figure nearly doubled, to 4,000. (from Pink Dot's blog)
I don't expect attitudes to change overnight, for taboos and discrimination to be dissolved any time soon. But baby steps are being taken. The fact that support for Pink Dot SG has been increasing so much, that so much awareness is being created proves that. Today marked a page in Singapore's history, and I'm so glad to have been a part of it.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Bits and bobs
Today's affirmation made me grin:
I am organised and productive. I have lots of energy, and I enjoy getting my life in order.
Moi? Enjoy getting my life in order? YOU DON'T SAY.
~~~
Had a really weird dream last night. Won't go into detail, mostly because I'd rather forget it. Not a nightmare per se, but just...strange.
~~~
Heard Mac Daddy and Daddy Mac on the radio this morning. One of the two songs that I actually remember.
~~~
Federal judge Vaughn Walker this morning overturned California's Proposition 8, which had denied marriage to same-sex couples. This makes me happy and warm and fuzzy.
~~~
Stayed at work til 10pm last night. Managed to get quite a bit done. Still full of energy today, and will be home late after class. How do I do it? I don't know! To celebrate my duck-like qualities (i.e. calm and unruffled on the surface, paddling like crazy underneath), I'm wearing yellow today. Also, it's a happy colour. Also, I look amazing in yellow.
~~~
Today is Psych day. Yesterday was White Collar day. I look forward to watching both episodes on the weekend.
~~~
Wearing a white bottom when Aunt Flo's in town. Brave or brainless? You decide. But I do so love my Thai silk trouser-skirts. So comfortable, yet looks so good. I have them in white (wearing it today), dusty rose, turquoise and purple. Was thinking of wearing the white one tomorrow, with a red top, in celebration of National Day...but...nah. I'll save the patriotic outfit for the weekend, and decided to go with the white one today, visiting relatives be damned.
~~~
My sinuses are acting up again. Right now, it's not so much an infection as my body trying to tell me to get more sleep already! Have popped two Clarinase tablets in the past couple hours, but to no avail. Hopefully I feel better soon. And fingers crossed, I might be able to get a quick nap in at lunchtime.
~~~
It's taken me about an hour to write this between bouts of work. Going to focus on work proper now.
But here, have a video. Hopefully this song gets stuck in your head too.
I am organised and productive. I have lots of energy, and I enjoy getting my life in order.
Moi? Enjoy getting my life in order? YOU DON'T SAY.
~~~
Had a really weird dream last night. Won't go into detail, mostly because I'd rather forget it. Not a nightmare per se, but just...strange.
~~~
Heard Mac Daddy and Daddy Mac on the radio this morning. One of the two songs that I actually remember.
~~~
Federal judge Vaughn Walker this morning overturned California's Proposition 8, which had denied marriage to same-sex couples. This makes me happy and warm and fuzzy.
~~~
Stayed at work til 10pm last night. Managed to get quite a bit done. Still full of energy today, and will be home late after class. How do I do it? I don't know! To celebrate my duck-like qualities (i.e. calm and unruffled on the surface, paddling like crazy underneath), I'm wearing yellow today. Also, it's a happy colour. Also, I look amazing in yellow.
~~~
Today is Psych day. Yesterday was White Collar day. I look forward to watching both episodes on the weekend.
~~~
Wearing a white bottom when Aunt Flo's in town. Brave or brainless? You decide. But I do so love my Thai silk trouser-skirts. So comfortable, yet looks so good. I have them in white (wearing it today), dusty rose, turquoise and purple. Was thinking of wearing the white one tomorrow, with a red top, in celebration of National Day...but...nah. I'll save the patriotic outfit for the weekend, and decided to go with the white one today, visiting relatives be damned.
~~~
My sinuses are acting up again. Right now, it's not so much an infection as my body trying to tell me to get more sleep already! Have popped two Clarinase tablets in the past couple hours, but to no avail. Hopefully I feel better soon. And fingers crossed, I might be able to get a quick nap in at lunchtime.
~~~
It's taken me about an hour to write this between bouts of work. Going to focus on work proper now.
But here, have a video. Hopefully this song gets stuck in your head too.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Flaunting My Sexuality
Sparky, of Spark in Darkness, has posted a brilliant critical satire of everyday homophobia.
He adds on his Livejournal:
And sadly, this is the point. None of these things are bad. The planning about the anniversary, the excitment over marriage, talking about families, the kissing, the handholding - the love, the families, the joy, the children, the pregnancy. This is not flaunting, this is not a bad thing to see - these are part of the wonderful patchwork of our lives, the wonderful joyous things so many of us share and they should not be hidden or concealed or restrained. It is sad that I have heard this language, all of this language in one form or other, used when it is patently and obviously unreasonable, unfair and a downright odd objection. I look forward to a world, albeit not likely in my lifetime, when all of these things can be celebrated for all of us.
He adds on his Livejournal:
And sadly, this is the point. None of these things are bad. The planning about the anniversary, the excitment over marriage, talking about families, the kissing, the handholding - the love, the families, the joy, the children, the pregnancy. This is not flaunting, this is not a bad thing to see - these are part of the wonderful patchwork of our lives, the wonderful joyous things so many of us share and they should not be hidden or concealed or restrained. It is sad that I have heard this language, all of this language in one form or other, used when it is patently and obviously unreasonable, unfair and a downright odd objection. I look forward to a world, albeit not likely in my lifetime, when all of these things can be celebrated for all of us.
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