Sayoni Speak

Malaysian Activists' Response to the Seksualiti Merdeka Ban

admin@sayoni.com (Sayoni) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:54:39 GMT

Following the press statement released by the organisers of Seksualiti Merdeka we posted about, Malaysian activists have brought the case to court. We will have to wait till the Feb 21 hearing to find out how it goes, though.

A short snippet:

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Activists launched a rare legal case Tuesday aimed at fostering gay rights in Malaysia by challenging a police ban on an anti-homophobia arts festival.

The case highlights complaints about discrimination against gays at a time when international rights groups are urging authorities in Muslim-majority Malaysia to abolish laws criminalizing same-sex relations.

The acquittal this week of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on charges of sodomizing a male former aide prompted Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch to criticize the Malaysian government for insisting on laws that make sodomy punishable by 20-year prison sentences.

Find the full article at Yahoo! News.

The Road to Gay Equality

admin@sayoni.com (Sayoni) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:00:45 GMT

This article is by guest writer Bernie Leong.

In Lillian Faderman's groundbreaking book, Gay L.A., she writes that in 1942, "A circle of lesbian friends pooled their money and purchased a row of rental houses in Los Angeles. They created an early lesbian enclave, constructing communal areas such as a swimming pool, where they would meet each other regularly; and the homes in which they did not live, they leased only to other lesbians. They provided not only fellowship for one another but also social services. For example, when the sixty-year-old resident of the community suffered a ruptured aneurysm, and doctors wanted to institutionalize her permanently, her lesbian neighbours organized rotating shifts to dress and undress her, feed her, and keep her stimulated by conversation. Against the doctors' dire predictions ('She will survive as a vegetable'), she recovered normal speech and became fully functioning after three years."

Read more...

Landmark Report by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Discrimination and Violence Based ...

admin@sayoni.com (Sayoni) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:43:34 GMT

On December 15, a quietly momentous report was issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, titled "Discriminatory laws and practices and acts of violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity".

The report not only documents laws, practices and violence against people for reasons of sexual orientation and gender identity, it also correlates international human rights law to these happenings, pointing out rights violations, and provides recommendations that member states can take to redress these violations.

You can read the report in various languages such as English, French and Chinese (opens PDF).

Read more...

Hillary Clinton Pledges Support for Global LGBT Rights

admin@sayoni.com (Sayoni) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:47:04 GMT

This is the video and transcript of United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's speech on LGBT rights for Human Rights Day. The Obama Administration is calling for protection of LGBT rights worldwide, including combating violence and abuse, and has committed US$3 million to support international civil rights organisations.

Read more...

Seksualiti Merdeka: Stop inciting hatred against us! We are citizens of Malaysia

admin@sayoni.com (Sayoni) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 10:39:25 GMT

STOP INCITING HATRED AGAINST US! WE ARE CITIZENS OF MALAYSIA

Press Statement by the Organisers of Seksualiti Merdeka 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: seksualiti.merdeka@gmail.com

Date: 5 November 2011

We are saddened that many Malaysians, including people’s elected representatives, have seen fit to relentlessly persecute, stigmatise and discriminate all those who have found a safe space to dialogue and share information and knowledge on human rights during Seksualiti Merdeka’s events.

We are Malaysian citizens who are being denied our rights to our identity and self-determination. The false allegations and ill-intended remarks made to incite hate towards us are completely unjustified. They have further marginalized a group of Malaysians that have long suffered severe marginalization in society. As a United Nations Human Rights Council member, the Malaysian government should be ashamed for endorsing and encouraging such intimidation and scare tactics.

Read more...

Online Petition for LGBT Rights at Commonwealth Meeting

admin@sayoni.com (Sayoni) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:35:40 GMT

We would like to call on our readers to sign this petition, addressed to the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, to support his message of decriminalising homosexuality.

Leaders of 54 Commonwealth nations, including PM Lee, will be meeting in Perth from Oct 28-30 for the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Reports say that human rights will be an important focus of the summit, with news surfacing that there will be a push for these ex-British colonies to repeal their homophobic laws. The issue on people's minds will be the continuing relevance or irrelevance of the Commonwealth as an institution.

Link to petition:

http://www.allout.org/en/actions/wearenotillegal

Latest news:

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/10/26/commonwealth-secretary-general-backs-gay-rights/

Speaking in Perth, Australia, ahead of the Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting, Mr Sharma said Commonwealth countries should “embrace difference” and commit to “tolerance, respect and understanding”.

He said: “We recall the 2009 Affirmation of Commonwealth Values and Principles, which includes a clear commitment to tolerance, respect and understanding. This means we embrace difference, and that includes sexual identity.

Read more...

Be a Sayoni Volunteer

admin@sayoni.com (Sayoni) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 10:08:05 GMT

Do you like doing your part for a meaningful cause? Do you feel that you have something to give to the community? Would you like the chance to grow through valuable working experiences? Would you like to make a difference to someone's life — someone like you?

Sayoni is actively seeking volunteers to contribute to our growing needs. A wide range of opportunities are available, covering skills as diverse as copywriting, event organisation and academic research. You may volunteer for a one-off/short-term project or for a longer effort.

Read more...

Looking for a Good Lesbian Movie (or Two)?

admin@sayoni.com (Sayoni) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:51:04 GMT

This post is written by guest writer Dee Mason, who tells us exactly which LBT movies she would recommend to queer women. Guest posts are the personal views of the writers and may not represent those of Sayoni. Please also note that there will be light spoilers for these movies.

There is something comforting about watching a good lesbian movie. Some of them are weakly plotted and badly acted, but there have been some in recent years which not only have good scriptwriting, but were well-acted and -directed too. In the reviews below I have given a short guide to the plot and some of my own feelings about the movies. Obviously they are my own opinions, but I can’t say I don't hope to influence you into watching them!

The Kids Are Alright (2010)

Read more...

Report of s377A Hearing at the Court of Appeal, Singapore

admin@sayoni.com (Sayoni) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:09:15 GMT

This article is written by Indulekshmi Rajeswari, one of our active contributors and original founders of Sayoni. She is a law graduate who is currently getting her qualification for the bar. She has been actively involved in the case since last year and is currently the only person on M Ravi's legal team.

Writer's note: As I am intimately involved with the case, it would not be appropriate of me to give my personal thoughts on the matter, especially since the judgment is not out yet. However, a factual account is still warranted.

27th Sept was a fairly historic day. For the very first time, the Court of Appeal in Singapore heard a case relating to sexual orientation. Judgment has been reserved till a later date.

The journey to get here has been long and filled with sleepless nights, but I personally am glad I sacrificed sleep (and some sanity).

Sayoni has reported on this legal saga that started last year, with M Ravi filing a constitutional challenge against s377A in the name of Tan Eng Hong, someone who was caught for public sex with another man and charged under s377A. The charge was later dropped and substituted with s294(a), concerning an obscene act in public. Subsequently, the AGC filed to strike out the constitutional challenge and eventually, the motion came all the way to the Court of Appeal.

The hearing today focused on whether the plaintiff (the Appellant in this case) had the right to even bring the challenge. Both sides had voluminous written arguments. The AGC team was lead by Chief Prosecutor Aedit Abdullah. It must be noted that Aedit Abdullah is a well-respected Deputy Public Prosecutor who was a former Senior District Judge. He had three assisting counsel, including Teo Guan Siew, whose resume is also fairly impressive. The Appellant's team was led by M Ravi, who is known for having brought various constitutional challenges. At the time of this article, I was the sole person on his legal team.

Read more...

Congrats to our very own Jean Chong for being shortlisted in the AWARE Heroine award!

admin@sayoni.com (Sayoni) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 12:23:41 GMT

We are proud to announce that our very own Jean Chong has been shortlisted for the AWARE Heroine Award 2011!

The nominations for Singapore’s first gender equality awards were made by members of the public, as

well as members of AWARE. Each nominee has made a significant contribution to promoting gender

equality. For the judges, the key factors for deciding of the shortlist were the effort and impact of the

nominee’s contribution and the nominee’s identification with gender equality.

The judging panel comprised: AWARE board member and education entrepreneur Lindy Ong, playwright Eleanor Wong, journalist Ong Soh Chin, academic Philip Holden
and ambassador-at-large Professor Tommy Koh.

The winners will be unveiled at AWARE's Big Ball fundraising gala on October 17.

Further details at http://www.aware.org.sg/2011/09/the-aware-awards-here-are-the-nominees/