News & Features

Imagining Gay Paradise: Bali, Bangkok and Cyber-Singapore

Nigel Collett — Wed, 30 May 2012 00:00:00 +0800

Nigel Collett reviews Imagining Gay Paradise: Bali, Bangkok and Cyber-Singapore, a book by journalist and academic Gary L. Atkins that depicts gay paradises in Southeast Asia and the men who created them: Walter Spies, a gay German painter in Bali; Khun Toc who conceptualised the well known sauna Babylon in Bangkok; and Dr Stuart Koe who founded Fridae.

This story was published on 30 May, 2012

Gaga in Asia

Ng Yi-Sheng — Tue, 29 May 2012 00:00:00 +0800

Lady Gaga's Born This Way Ball premiered in Singapore last night. This marks the last stop of her multi-city Asian tour, due to the official cancellation of her Jakarta performance. Ng Yi-Sheng looks back at a month of pride and protests.

This story was published on 29 May, 2012

A new name in Hong Kong activism: Pink Alliance

Nigel Collett — Mon, 28 May 2012 10:24:00 +0800

Hong Kong’s Tongzhi Community Joint Meeting (TCJM for short) has decided to adopt a working name called Pink Alliance for its activities whilst keeping the TCJM name for its legally established and registered non-profit NGO. Fridae's Hong Kong Correspondent Nigel Collett has more on the group's history and new developments.

This story was published on 28 May, 2012

LGBT diversity good for individuals and business

Sylvia Tan — Fri, 25 May 2012 19:14:00 +0800

LGBT diversity in the workplace is not only good for individuals and have a positive impact on the community but also spurs business growth at the same time, say speakers at the recent 'The Power of LGBT Diversity in the Workplace and Marketplace' conference in Bangkok that was organised by Fridae and sponsored by IBM.

This story was published on 25 May, 2012

Community Business and Barclays release groundbreaking LGBT climate study

Nigel Collett — Fri, 25 May 2012 18:30:00 +0800

Sponsored by Barclays and conducted by Hong Kong University’s Public Opinion Programme, this is the first statistically reliable survey published on Hong Kong’s attitudes to sexual orientation and gender identity in the workplace.

This story was published on 25 May, 2012

A Chorus Line

Ng Yi-Sheng — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:59:00 +0800

From now till 27 May, the Broadway musical A Chorus Line is showing at the Marina Bay Sands Theater in Singapore. Ng Yi-Sheng interviews the cast about the show’s gay themes – which have made some audience members walk out in shock.

This story was published on 21 May, 2012

How LGBT-friendly are Singapore universities?

Ng Yi-Sheng — Fri, 18 May 2012 16:18:00 +0800

Ng Yi-Sheng, a regular Fridae contributor and openly gay creative writing teacher at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, looks at the state of queer acceptance in Singapore’s universities – and wonders if the opening of the new Yale-NUS college will improve things.

This story was published on 18 May, 2012

IDAHO Events in Asia

International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:47:00 +0800

From a street forum in Hong Kong to a workshop on family acceptance of LGBT people and coming out as LGBT in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Various cities in Asia are commemorating International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) today.

This story was published on 17 May, 2012

Nan Nan Zi Yu: A Language of Their Own

Ng Yi-Sheng — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:43:00 +0800

An iconic gay play by Singaporean-American playwright Chay Yew has been translated into Mandarin. It's being performed this weekend from 18 to 20 May 2012 in Singapore.

This story was published on 16 May, 2012

Hong Kong commemorates IDAHOT

Nigel Collett — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:33:00 +0800

Hong Kong commemorates the International Day Against Homophobia And Transphobia with appearances by recently out Cantopop star Anthony Wong, well-known Hong Kong activist Billy Leung and his mother; as well as Legislative Councillors Audrey Eu, founder of the Civic Party, and Cyd Ho and Lee Cheuk Yan, founders of the Labour Party.

This story was published on 14 May, 2012

Lesbian Muslim activist Irshad Manji: Silence empowers bullies

News Editor — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:59:00 +0800

Openly lesbian Muslim activist and author Irshad Manji spoke about her faith after she had one event at a university in Yogyakarta cancelled, and another in Jakarta stopped midway where she had to leave under heavy police escort as religious extremists violently protested the event.

This story was published on 11 May, 2012

Hong Kong: Gay groups clash over controversial politician invited to rally

Sylvia Tan — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:16:00 +0800

For My Colours, a coalition which organised the IDAHO rallies from 2005-2008, has clashed with the Pink Alliance – organisers of this year's rally on May 12 – over an invited politican known for her anti-mainland immigration and anti-democratic views in an all-out spat.

This story was published on 10 May, 2012

Contact Moments: The Politics of Intercultural Desire in Japanese Male-Queer Cultures

Nigel Collett — Mon, 07 May 2012 08:30:00 +0800

Focusing on a range of Japanese as well as English male-queer materials including magazines and websites, author Katsuhiko Suganuma examines the formation of masculine same-sex desire in postwar Japan, and in particular to one aspect of its relations with the West (Euro-America).

This story was published on 7 May, 2012

Kiss between actresses at Singapore awards show causes outcry; censors “looking into” the matter

Ng Yi-Sheng — Fri, 04 May 2012 19:39:00 +0800

An innocent on-screen kiss between Singaporean actresses Vivian Lai and Kate Pang took place during last Sunday’s Singapore Star Awards 2. The result has been a media frenzy, with actions taken by the Media Development Authority and MediaCorp.

This story was published on 4 May, 2012

Handsome: IVSG

Ng Yi-Sheng — Thu, 03 May 2012 19:58:00 +0800

From 4 to 18 May, rainbowartsproject is holding "Handsome: IVSG", an art exhibition about men and masculinity. Featured artists include filmmaker Bruce LaBruce, photographer Marcus Mok and young illustrator Faisal Husni.

This story was published on 3 May, 2012

Justice for LGBTs, justice for all: Why is justice so far from those who really need it?

Pang Khee Teik — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:10:00 +0800

With bullies running the country, many LGBTs find themselves hiding further and further beyond the margins of the legal, beyond the reach of the laws that deem them unfit for society. Making a person think he deserves no justice is NO different from denying him justice. And that is how many LGBTs are denied one of the most fundamental rights of being human: the right to justice.

This story was published on 30 Apr, 2012

Mobile app to locate gay-friendly businesses to be launched in Hong Kong

Tony Ed Lo — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:50:00 +0800

Fridae’s Hong Kong reporter Tony Ed Lo investigates the story behind the Pink Dollar app that was conceived over a year ago by high profile entrepreneur and markets commentator Paul Ramscar.

This story was published on 30 Apr, 2012

Should LGBTs join Bersih?

Hafidz Baharom — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:07:00 +0800

Bersih (which means "clean" in Malay), a Malaysian movement for free and fair elections which saw tens of thousands of activists, politicians and citizens take to the streets of Kuala Lumpur 9 July 2011, is slated to take place on Saturday, April 28. Hafidz Baharom, an openly gay social commentator, shares why he has decided to go.

This story was published on 27 Apr, 2012

Hong Kong pop star Anthony Wong comes out

Tony Ed Lo — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:02:00 +0800

Hong Kong pop singer Anthony Wong has come out as gay – making him the only second openly gay high profile singer in the territory after the late Leslie Cheung to do so.

This story was published on 27 Apr, 2012

Burnt body of "tomboy" Malaysian teen found

News editor — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:11:00 +0800

The burnt body of a 16-year-old female teenager described in a local media report as often dressing as a man and who has been missing for three weeks has been found in the town of Gua Musang in the state of Kelantan.

This story was published on 26 Apr, 2012

Singapore: Gay and bi men make up most of new HIV infections, highest in 20 years

News Editor — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:02:00 +0800

For the first time in 20 years, gay and bisexual men accounted for most of the new infections detected in the first half of 2011, according to statistics provided by the Ministry of Health.

This story was published on 25 Apr, 2012

1,000 at anti-LGBT rally in Kuala Lumpur

News Editor — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:09:00 +0800

Over 1,000 people joined an anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rally last Saturday.

This story was published on 23 Apr, 2012

1 in 5 gay people in Taiwan have attempted suicide: Survey

News Editor — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:00:00 +0800

Despite Taiwan's reputation as one of Asia's gay-friendliest territories, about 30 per cent of those surveyed have considered taking their own lives, and of these 18 per cent have actually attempted suicide while over half said they had been targets of verbal harassment, physical violence and sexual abuse.

This story was published on 18 Apr, 2012

Fridae wins back Fridae.com in domain name case

News Editor — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:30:00 +0800

Fridae's original domain name Fridae.com has been returned to the company following a decision by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) this month.

This story was published on 18 Apr, 2012

Fridae and IBM to hold first LGBT diversity in the workplace conference in Bangkok, May 8

News Editor — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:59:00 +0800

Online registration for ''The Power of LGBT Diversity in the Workplace and Marketplace'' conference is now open.

This story was published on 16 Apr, 2012

Dr Robert Spitzer renounces infamous ‘ex-gay’ study

Wayne Besen — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:30:00 +0800

In a move that serves as a significant blow to "ex-gay" programs and anti-gay organizations, Dr. Robert Spitzer repudiated his much-criticized 2001 study that claimed some "highly motivated" homosexuals could go from gay to straight.

This story was published on 13 Apr, 2012

Mothers of Taiwanese gay couple appear in court to show support

News Editor — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:28:00 +0800

The mothers of Chen Jing-hsueh and Gao Jhih-wei – a gay couple who filed a legal petition to seek legal recognition of their marriage – appeared in court on Wednesday with their sons for the first time, and spoke to the media about accepting and supporting their sons' sexuality and decision to be married.

This story was published on 12 Apr, 2012

No ban on LGBT characters: Malaysian Culture Minister; anti-gay rally planned for Apr 21

News Editor — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:15:00 +0800

LGBT issues have continuously made the news since March 21 when an MP told Parliament that three out of every 10 men in Malaysia is gay followed by the Deputy PM's comments that LGBT people require counselling. The Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (Coalition of Malaysian Malays) has meanwhile launched an anti-LGBT campaign and is planning an anti-gay rally on April 21.

This story was published on 11 Apr, 2012

Singapore's first-ever night Pink Dot 2012 to be held Jun 30

News Editor — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:56:00 +0800

On June 30, 2012, Singaporeans will, for the fourth year running, gather at Hong Lim Park to form a human pink dot in support of the belief that everyone deserves the freedom to love, regardless their sexual orientation.

This story was published on 9 Apr, 2012

Taiwanese gay couple to appeal unsuccessful marriage registration in court

News Editor — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:10:00 +0800

A Taiwanese gay couple, who had unsuccessfully applied to the Department of Household Registration to be officially recognised as a household, has filed a petition for the case to be heard in court.

This story was published on 5 Apr, 2012

The great diva divide

Otto Fong — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:24:00 +0800

While many gay men adore and worship their respective pop divas, it's no reason to turn their backs on their gay friends just because they are loyal and are devoted to another, says Otto Fong who witnessed wars breaking out on his Facebook wall of late.

This story was published on 3 Apr, 2012

Alan Hollinghurst

Nigel Collett and Tony Ed Lo — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:17:00 +0800

Exclusive! Fridae's Hong Kong correspondent Nigel Collett and reporter Tony Ed Lo meet Booker Prize winner Alan Hollinghurst, author of the new novel The Stranger’s Child – his first since The Line Of Beauty won the Prize in 2004. His first four books, written over a span of almost 20 years, explores gay life in England, past and present but the latest takes a slight departure.

This story was published on 30 Mar, 2012

15 targeted killings of lesbians in Thailand since 2006: IGLHRC report

Sylvia Tan — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:57:00 +0800

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) has compiled 15 documented cases of killings and rapes of lesbians; and demands an immediate police investigation into the pattern of the violent murders.

This story was published on 29 Mar, 2012

We don’t have to live in fear: Malaysian gay activist

Pang Khee Teik — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 17:48:00 +0800

Pang Khee Teik, co-founder of Malaysia's only sexuality rights festival, Seksualiti Merdeka, writes in an open letter to the community after hearing from many that they were "doing just fine" but are now under scrutiny after Seksualiti Merdeka 'decided' to fight for LGBT rights publicly.

This story was published on 27 Mar, 2012

2 US gay men arrested on Caribbean cruise, recall 'horrible' experience

News Editor — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 18:21:00 +0800

Two California men pleaded guilty to indecent exposure in the Caribbean island of Dominica after they were arrested on suspicion of the local equivalent of sodomy, which prohibits sex between two men.

This story was published on 26 Mar, 2012

30% of Malaysian men are gay, ‘gay rehab’ needed: Malaysian official

News Editor — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:18:00 +0800

Without citing any details or source, an UMNO/Barisan Nasional MP told Parliament that three out of every 10 men in Malaysia is gay and called on the government to establish a gay rehab center to 'combat' homosexuality.

This story was published on 23 Mar, 2012

Why all the fuss about same-sex marriage?

Jennifer Chang — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 18:21:00 +0800

Jennifer Chang of Outandaround.com ponders about the fight for same-sex marriage equality and why it matters.

This story was published on 22 Mar, 2012

India govt in favour of decriminalising gay sex

News Editor — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:57:00 +0800

The India government said it fully accepts the Delhi high court landmark 2009 verdict, which decriminalised consensual gay sex between adults in private.

This story was published on 21 Mar, 2012