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 sunny island set in the sea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sunny island set in the sea. 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. ;)
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| no longer just a 'dot' |
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
View From The Top
After being so determined that I'll never go on the Singapore Flyer...I went on the Singapore Flyer on Sunday. Only reason was that it was with the family! And BIL!Mike had a pass for 5 people, and Sis!S had cheap tickets for the rest of us. All 13 of us went, excluding my niece Nix, as she had a class to attend.
So there we were, making our way to, in the words of nephew Neal, the Giant Ferris Wheel. How would I describe my first (and mostly likely only) flyer experience?
In a word: Boring.
I mean, seriously, we're all stuck in a capsule, right? And it's going round ever so slowly, and we can't do anything while we're up there, and it's BORING. It was only enjoyable because of the family.
I think the ones who had the most fun were my two older nephews. When they weren't fascinated by the view, they were busy monkeying around.
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| Neal & Shay |
After we were finally back on terra firma, we did what any self-respecting Singaporean would have done. We went fooding at the Food Trail, of course! It really did bring back so many memories, more so for my parents and grandmum, of course. The food was a little pricier than it would have been elsewhere, but oh so nommy!
There was so much food on our table! My favourite dishes were the rojak, or luak, and ice ball, washed down with a refreshing bird's nest drink. Oh, and the ting ting candy too!
Hmm, now I'm having a candy craving.
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.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
It is with a heavy heart that I shall go to bed.
Singaporeans just don't know what's going on. Stupid media puppets having their strings pulled by the ruling party.
So sad.
ETA:
I am somewhat mollified by the affirmation for Saturday, aka Election day.
Everything happens in the perfect time/space sequence.
Singaporeans just don't know what's going on. Stupid media puppets having their strings pulled by the ruling party.
So sad.
ETA:
I am somewhat mollified by the affirmation for Saturday, aka Election day.
Everything happens in the perfect time/space sequence.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Vote 2011
Singapore goes to the Polls today.
I've refrained from posting anything on this blog; all my political statements and opinions have been on my Facebook page. But for today, I will make a special blog post.
Singapore goes to the Polls today.
It was mentioned to me by a friend who's a US citizen, just last week, that it seems like the big election news isn't so much the issues at hand, it's that there's an election at all! As I explained to him, the general election happens once every 5 years. But the ruling party has been in power for the past 50 years. Most people never had to vote, for there was no contest in their constituency, and the ruling party has managed to instil fear in our people. That if you don't vote for them, that if you speak up against them, the law will come down on you and your family. That your family will be blackmarked for life.
Well, all that is changing now. We now have credible opposition candidates, full of brain and full of heart. We have sincere opposition candidates, with the courage to stand up and say "I want to make a difference." The ruling party is being shaken up, and perhaps finally, finally! the voices of the common people might get heard. This is the most highly contested election since Independence, and it has its place in the history of Singapore.
Singapore goes to the Polls today.
With all the restrictions in the tightly-controlled mainstream media, our people could never get the full picture, could never make an informed choice. In the last election, political bloggers had to still their fingers. People spoke in hushed tones about the government. This year, I look around, and I see a change. With the loosening of the reins on the Internet, Singaporeans finally have a glimpse at what freedom of the press could possibly be like. Online newspapers have been telling the news that doesn't appear in the mainstream media. Political bloggers have been typing furiously. And the people have been making their voices heard through social networks.
Will the ruling party lose their mandate? No. Will they lose the power that they have over Singaporeans, especially the older generation who feel that they should be grateful for all that the ruling party has done? No. Will the margin be narrowed, will more alternative voices appear in parliament to speak up for the areas of society that have been left behind? Oh, I do hope so.
Singapore goes to the Polls today.
I can see my Polling Station from my bedroom window (also, my dining room window and my balcony, but I'm in my bedroom right now). There's a pretty good queue now, and voting doesn't open for another couple minutes.
I am a first-time voter, having been unable to vote in the last election for my constituency went uncontested, and in the election before that, I just wasn't old enough.
In the past 10 days, I have been inundated with information. I have participated in countless discussions. I have scoured the internet for articles and videos. I have attended rallies. I have reflected, and I have made my decision.
Singapore goes to the polls today.
Today, I vote for Singapore.
I've refrained from posting anything on this blog; all my political statements and opinions have been on my Facebook page. But for today, I will make a special blog post.
Singapore goes to the Polls today.
It was mentioned to me by a friend who's a US citizen, just last week, that it seems like the big election news isn't so much the issues at hand, it's that there's an election at all! As I explained to him, the general election happens once every 5 years. But the ruling party has been in power for the past 50 years. Most people never had to vote, for there was no contest in their constituency, and the ruling party has managed to instil fear in our people. That if you don't vote for them, that if you speak up against them, the law will come down on you and your family. That your family will be blackmarked for life.
Well, all that is changing now. We now have credible opposition candidates, full of brain and full of heart. We have sincere opposition candidates, with the courage to stand up and say "I want to make a difference." The ruling party is being shaken up, and perhaps finally, finally! the voices of the common people might get heard. This is the most highly contested election since Independence, and it has its place in the history of Singapore.
Singapore goes to the Polls today.
With all the restrictions in the tightly-controlled mainstream media, our people could never get the full picture, could never make an informed choice. In the last election, political bloggers had to still their fingers. People spoke in hushed tones about the government. This year, I look around, and I see a change. With the loosening of the reins on the Internet, Singaporeans finally have a glimpse at what freedom of the press could possibly be like. Online newspapers have been telling the news that doesn't appear in the mainstream media. Political bloggers have been typing furiously. And the people have been making their voices heard through social networks.
Will the ruling party lose their mandate? No. Will they lose the power that they have over Singaporeans, especially the older generation who feel that they should be grateful for all that the ruling party has done? No. Will the margin be narrowed, will more alternative voices appear in parliament to speak up for the areas of society that have been left behind? Oh, I do hope so.
Singapore goes to the Polls today.
I can see my Polling Station from my bedroom window (also, my dining room window and my balcony, but I'm in my bedroom right now). There's a pretty good queue now, and voting doesn't open for another couple minutes.
I am a first-time voter, having been unable to vote in the last election for my constituency went uncontested, and in the election before that, I just wasn't old enough.
In the past 10 days, I have been inundated with information. I have participated in countless discussions. I have scoured the internet for articles and videos. I have attended rallies. I have reflected, and I have made my decision.
Singapore goes to the polls today.
Today, I vote for Singapore.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Timbre Rock & Roots
Day 2
Oh my goodness. Yesterday's performances were, in a word, AWESOME.
I got there just before Imogen Heap was up, and boy oh boy, am I ever glad I was there before she started! From the minute she stepped on stage, I was smitten. I loved her music ever since I first discovered it a couple years ago. She's gorgeous, she's funny and quirky and rather eccentric, she's full of fun and her voice...omg, her voice. I've developed such a crush!
Trombone Shorty was up next. I'd never heard of him or his music, and I was wowed! I'll tell you, it brought back a few memories. Being a former band geek who once dated another band geek (who played trombone!), I've always loved the sounds of the trombone. I've never quite heard it being played like this, and omgomgomg, he held a single, pure note for more than two minutes. I've known of circular breathing for years, but I'd never actually seen anyone do it, and I. Was. Wowed. So in awe!
John Legend closed up the night. That man has a lovely, lovely voice, but I daresay his performance could have been a little better. The man comes on stage, starts singing....and not a sound came out! The mic wasn't on! And he was singing one of Adele's as well. What a shame! The whatchamacallit, sound mixing? left quite a bit to be desired. The music was so loud that his voice was drowned out. Finally, when it was just the piano and his voice, did I truly appreciate how lovely his voice really is.
It was a fantastic weekend of music, and I enjoyed myself tremendously.
Met MyEvilTwin and her friends, and we went up to Ku De Ta. The view of my city from up there was breathtaking. The almost-full moon, the lights of the city below...I rediscovered a new love for this wonderful city I call home.
Danny Tenaglia was spinning at Zouk for their 20th anniversary as well, and I would have loved to go. I love me some Tenaglia, I love zouk, and quite a few of the old crew were there! And actually, I very nearly did go, especially since MyEvilTwin was there and I love clubbing with her. But sense kicked in, and I decided to head home for a couple hours sleep before class today. Shame about missing Tenaglia, but that's what comes with being a semi-responsible pseudo-adult!
I barely slept all weekend, my feet are swollen and hurting, my legs and back are aching and I'm feeling oh so knackered.
All signs of an awesome weekend. And it's not even over yet.
Oh my goodness. Yesterday's performances were, in a word, AWESOME.
I got there just before Imogen Heap was up, and boy oh boy, am I ever glad I was there before she started! From the minute she stepped on stage, I was smitten. I loved her music ever since I first discovered it a couple years ago. She's gorgeous, she's funny and quirky and rather eccentric, she's full of fun and her voice...omg, her voice. I've developed such a crush!
Trombone Shorty was up next. I'd never heard of him or his music, and I was wowed! I'll tell you, it brought back a few memories. Being a former band geek who once dated another band geek (who played trombone!), I've always loved the sounds of the trombone. I've never quite heard it being played like this, and omgomgomg, he held a single, pure note for more than two minutes. I've known of circular breathing for years, but I'd never actually seen anyone do it, and I. Was. Wowed. So in awe!
John Legend closed up the night. That man has a lovely, lovely voice, but I daresay his performance could have been a little better. The man comes on stage, starts singing....and not a sound came out! The mic wasn't on! And he was singing one of Adele's as well. What a shame! The whatchamacallit, sound mixing? left quite a bit to be desired. The music was so loud that his voice was drowned out. Finally, when it was just the piano and his voice, did I truly appreciate how lovely his voice really is.
It was a fantastic weekend of music, and I enjoyed myself tremendously.
Met MyEvilTwin and her friends, and we went up to Ku De Ta. The view of my city from up there was breathtaking. The almost-full moon, the lights of the city below...I rediscovered a new love for this wonderful city I call home.
Danny Tenaglia was spinning at Zouk for their 20th anniversary as well, and I would have loved to go. I love me some Tenaglia, I love zouk, and quite a few of the old crew were there! And actually, I very nearly did go, especially since MyEvilTwin was there and I love clubbing with her. But sense kicked in, and I decided to head home for a couple hours sleep before class today. Shame about missing Tenaglia, but that's what comes with being a semi-responsible pseudo-adult!
I barely slept all weekend, my feet are swollen and hurting, my legs and back are aching and I'm feeling oh so knackered.
All signs of an awesome weekend. And it's not even over yet.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
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