The episode:
Humorous opinion on the BN MP from Sekijang’s recent disertation claiming that 33% of Malaysian men are gay and wants to start rehabilitation centers for these men. Guess he thinks lesbians are ok, the perv!

A 1980 Sunni fatwa came out shortly after the first test tube baby, Louisa Brown, was born in 1978, forbidding any form of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). However since the 1990s, a rash of fatwas made some ART accessible and permissible for married couple with infertility issues. These fatwas still serve as the foundation of Sunni ruling around ART up to today.

A highlight summary of the rulings include:
- Gamete (third party) ART including surrogacy, egg and sperm donation are not allowed. As no third party are allowed to intrude into the marital functions of sex and procreation, since marriage is a contract between the wife and husband during the span of their marriage, no third party donor is allowed, whether the donor is providing sperm, eggs, embryos, or a uterus. The use of a third party is tantamount to zina, or adultery.
- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Artificial Insemination (AI) with the wife’s egg and husband’s sperm are permissible.
- Women should not expose themselves to male staff for treatment
- Husbands cannot masturbate to get sperm for infertility treatment
- Children born out of third party donor are considered illegitimate or worse, the rightful children of the donating party e.g. the man who donated the sperm or the woman who donated the uterus, egg or embryos.
- A muslim should be cautious of the fertility clinics motivation and procedures to avoid using the wrong sperm or eggs/embryos.

For more fun-filled details of other fatwa-sanctioned ART rights, read Making muslim babies: IVF and gamete donation in Sunni vs. Shi’a Islam: Marcia C. Inhorn 2006.

The end sum of options for people facing infertility issues as far as I can tell are as follows:

For a married man and wife who has to go through IVF to conceive:
1. As long as the sperm belongs to the husband, the egg and uterus belongs to the wife, the wife does not expose her aurat (See Hijab laws) to non-muhrims, husband does not masturbate to get his sperm out, the process is halal i.e. sanctioned.

For a woman with an infertile husband:
1. divorce the husband and find a fertile spouse
2. foster a child
3. be patient as God knows best

For a man with an infertile wife:
1. Marry (up to 3) other fertile wife
2. foster a child
3. be patient as God knows best

For a single person who has no desire to marry
1. get married to a fertile spouse and get divorced after the child is born, otherwise known as a mut’a wedding i.e. fake wedding to fulfill the religious obligations of finding sexual fulfilment or having children through marriage. Note: Mut’a is typically a Shi’a practice. Malaysian muslims are majority Sunnis.
2. foster a child

For a gay couple
1. forget about fostering a child, you and your spouse are going to hell

Granted, the basis for these rulings is well meaning. The aim is to keep the family line unambiguously defined and to protect one’s lineage. The intent is to protect future complications with relationships e.g. avoiding incestuous siblings/parent-child relationships should lineage be unknown.

Hence, a muslim wife retains her family name to “maintain the link between her and her parents and ascendants” and marriage is the only legitimate way to have children and most interestingly, muslims do not adopt children as much as foster them. I will cover adoption in islam in another article.

In breaking down the lineage argument, when a husband has a wife who is infertile, he is allowed to marry up to 3 other wives assuming they are fertile and have children with these other wives because the lineage of the child undoubtedly belongs to the husband.

When a wife has an infertile husband, using a third party sperm donor is tantamount to zina even when there is no sex involved because technically the child’s lineage belongs to the sperm donor and the wife.

For a single man trying to have a baby through a surrogate mother, this course is also considered zina. Furthermore, the ruling on children born out of wedlock is that the man has no parental rights over the child that is if the uterus donor and man are not married, only the biological mother has the rights to the child. (See Sunni Forum: Out of Wedlock Child) The ruling however runs counter to the protection of lineage and I am assuming is designed to punish the adulterers by denying parental attributions to the biological father.

For a single woman trying to have a baby via a sperm donor, unless the woman marries the sperm donor in a mut’a wedding or otherwise, the baby will be considered illegitimate and the act of impregnation is considered zina. According to law with illegitimate children, the sperm donor has no parental rights and the baby will be attributed to the woman, i.e. the baby is given the mother’s name as oppose to the biological father’s name.

Interestingly, Shi’a has a different view on ART where gamete donation is permissible as long as the infertile parents abide by the religious codes regarding parenting according to a late 1990 fatwa issued by Ayatollah Khamanei of Iran. However, the child of the egg or sperm donor has the right to inherit from the donor themselves, as the infertile woman or man are considered to be like adoptive parents as opposed to actual parents. The child is allowed to have the name of the infertile father. Specifically, in regards to sperm donation, the child born of sperm donation get to have the name of the infertile father instead of the sperm donor. However, the child can only inherit from his biological father, the sperm donor, since the infertile father is considered to be like an adoptive father.

Equally fascinating is IVF views in Judaism. 3rd party gamete donation including sperm is allowed as “Jewishness is conferred through the mother particularly through the act of gestating and birthing the baby.” In other words, lineage or Jewishness passed along through the biological mother instead of the father. In addition, conservative rabbis prefer non-Jewish donor as means of preventing future possible genetic incest. The Jewish state is quite pronatalist in that IVF is not only permissible for single career women and lesbian Jewish mothers but the procedure is often subsidized by the state. Another interesting fact is to ensure correct sperm/eggs implantation, maschigots i.e. “orthodox Jewish women” would preside over IVF procedures.

The fact of the matter is fertility clinics and sperm banks have improved leaps and bounds over the years where careful background and health screening is done through each sperm, egg or uterus donor. Many fertility clinics make potential parents go through therapy counseling and some require the couple to have counseling sessions with the potential donors if known. Most conscientious sperm banks have family limits for each sperm donor irrespective of successful pregnancy. Many banks have identity release programs designed to allow the child to find out the identity of the sperm donor after a certain age. Others even set up sibling catalogs to ensure couples get the same sperm source for consequential children.

I had a friend asked me once why I bothered going through the therapy sessions, paying thousands of dollars out of pocket to find a sperm donor and go through artificial insemination when I can easily just get a guy to sleep with me for less money or even free. After mentally punching this friend in the face, my simple answer was because I respect and love my partner that I will not “divorce” her to marry some guy to bear a child with, that I will not commit adultery with another person when I am committed to my spouse, and that I want her to be a part of the process as much as I will be.

Personally, though some percentage of the child’s biological origin may come from another source, we both believe that the child that we hope to conceive will be 100% our child. This child will be result of both our hard work in going through the process of ART, pregnancy and child rearing. The fact the child has some biological origin not from my partner is of minute emotional consequence. I am alarmed and a little sadden that the religion I was born into, place paternal lineage high above over love and fidelity of a relationship. I hope that the religious authority continue to have discussions on ART and come up with better rulings for couples with infertility issues, single parents and (I dare dream) gay couples.

Hello?

Hey, son! About time we talked, don’t you think?

About what, dad?

You, my dear son, you. It’s been a while.

Yeah, sure has.

We missed you.

Dad, you know how much I hated that small town where we lived. The feelings were pretty mutual back then.

Come on, son. You know it wasn’t for no reason you and your friends couldn’t get along.

Oh, so it’s my fault then? Great, dad, calling to tell me that I’m a jerk. What else is new?

You haven’t exactly been a … well, friendly kid back then. Can’t blame others for what you did to yourself.

Why don’t you try being friendly to a group of kids who kick your butt into the dirt every day?

I’m sure it wasn’t that bad. After all, the teachers wouldn’t have allowed anything to happen.

Dad, the teachers hate me too, remember? All that crap about me ‘straying from the path of the righteous’ and ‘mixing with a bad crowd’ pissed the hell out of me.

Well, you were a bit of a troubled kid, disobeying orders and never finishing your homework.

I was busy surviving high school, dad. That place was a freaking nightmare. One wrong move, and you’re screwed.

I went to the same school when I was your age, and it was pretty fun.

You were the jock, dad. I was the kid everyone pisses on.

Maybe if you weren’t so… flamboyant, people might have left you alone.

That’s who I am, dad. I can’t change who I am. But nobody understands that. Even you and mum think I’m twisted or something.

Son, guys your age spend time playing football and hanging out with girlfriends. They don’t….

What, dad? Dance and sing? Play the piano? Watch musicals? Don’t be ridiculous, dad.

You spent entire days singing along to songs from Grease and Cats. What was I supposed to think?

That I liked musicals? Why don’t you try that for a change, huh, dad?

It’s not just that. It’s…. well, the way you behaved, and all. People were freaking out. Your mum and I were freaking out.

Oh my God, I can’t believe you’re telling me this crap. There’s nothing wrong with the way I behaved.

Son, of course there’s something wrong. You’re a guy, and guys don’t act like that.

How the hell do you know how guys are supposed to act? It’s not like it’s written in stone or something.

It’s in the Bible, son. Maybe if you’re not so busy you could try reading it.

Read something that tells me I deserve to burn in hell? No, thanks.

But if you repent, and accept God’s love, you can be in heaven with us! Think about how sad we’ll be if you weren’t there.

Technically, if you’re in heaven, you should be happy. If you’re sad, it defeats the purpose, doesn’t it?

…

Dad, you still there?

Yeah, just thinking about what you said.

Oh, screw that. How’s mum doing these days?

Well, about that… she isn’t exactly hale and hearty, but she’s hanging in there.

Hanging in there? What the hell are you talking about?

She had a stroke last year, and I tried to call you, but you never picked up….

Oh.

Son.

…

Son.

…

You OK?

My nose is runny. Wait a minute.

…

Dad?

Yes, son?

What happened after that?

Well, she was hospitalised for a couple of months, and during that time, she kept asking for you, but no one knew where you were.

Oh.

She got better after a while, but we’re keeping her health in check. Can’t be too safe nowadays.

You know, even after all those fights back then, I still cared about her. But she didn’t give a damn about me.

She did, son. She just didn’t want to show it. When you left, it pretty much broke her heart. She cried for days, and when she wasn’t crying, she was walking around the house like a zombie. She kept saying that she failed as a mother.

Well, she sort of did. Mothers were supposed to love their children no matter what, and she pretty much failed on that part.

Don’t put the blame on her. She has strong values, and you can’t expect that to change overnight.

I waited seventeen freaking years for her to change. That’s not overnight.

I think what tipped her over the brink was the night you left. Remember that?

Yeah. It wasn’t pretty, was it?

No, son, it sure as hell wasn’t. We were all screaming at each other, and after a while, you announced that you were leaving. I swore that when you walked out that front door, I felt sure as hell you were going to come back. You always did before. But that time, you didn’t.

I slept in the park that night, dad. I knew I couldn’t possibly go back again, so I hitchhiked, got a job, moved around for a while. Then I met someone. We were cool for a while, but then he broke it off. So I bunked around at friends’ for a while until I got enough money for an apartment. It wasn’t much, but at least I had someplace I could call home.

Well, you could’ve come back here.

And what? Start another row? No dad, I’ve had enough with that place. At least out there, I had some peace of mind.

So you’re still staying in that apartment?

What, now? Hell no. Left that place ages ago. Moved in with someone.

Oh. So you’re…

Still that way. Yes dad, I am, and I can never change.

But how do you know that?

If you were me, dad, you’ll know.

But I don’t understand.

I don’t wanna talk about this. The last time we did, it ended in a fight, and I doubt you called me for that. How’d you get my number anyway?

A friend of yours passed it along. Took me a while to convince him, but I finally did. The thing is, son, your sister is getting married. And she’s hoping that you could come to the ceremony.

Oh my God, Ella’s getting married? Who is it?

Some guy she met at her workplace. Name’s Rich. Nice guy, treats her well and all that. But most importantly, mum likes him. She thinks he’s a ‘true gentleman’.

Unlike me, I suppose.

Oh, don’t go into that. So, are you coming?

Hell yes I am! I love Ella, and I’m definitely going to be there on her big day.

There’s one more thing. Can you… not bring anyone?

What? I can’t even bring my boyfriend to my own sister’s wedding? Who the hell said that?

Son, let’s try to work things out here. Our relatives would freak if you walked in arm-in-arm with another guy.

Who cares? Definitely not me.

But it’s your sister’s wedding, son. Don’t ruin it for her. She’s been planning it for months, and she really wants to see you again. Please, work with me.

Hmm… all right. But remember, I’m doing this for Ella, not for any of those snotty, stuck-up bastards we have for relatives.

And I’d appreciate it if you don’t take off immediately after. We’d all like to spend some time with you. It’s been a long time, son.

We’ll see how it goes on that day. When’s the wedding, anyway?

Saturday.

What? That’s like three days from now!

I know. This is a pretty short notice, but I really hope you can make it.

Well, it shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll have to cancel a few plans, but Ella trumps anyone else in my life. She’s the only one who remained supportive throughout all those years. Damn, I miss that girl.

You’re going to be seeing her pretty soon, son. And the rest of us old folks as well.

…

…

Hey, dad. I got to go. There’s some work I have to finish. See you Saturday.

Bye son.

He stood at the very edge of the precipice, staring down at the waves crashing against the rocky cliff wall. The salty breeze ran its fingers through his hair, giving him tousled and windswept appearance. Drops of sea spray trickled down his bare chest, which heaved as he took a deep breath. Above, the cloudless sky filled with the calls of seagulls, an incessant cawing, a cacophony of chorusing birds. Slowly, he spread his arms wide, and allowed himself to succumb to the pull of gravity.

*

An image slowly formed in his mind. An indistinct face, devoid of features, blurred by the dark clouds of his memories. He strained himself, forcing his brain to once again conjure up the image of the one he loved. Slowly, a pair of eyes began to form, bright cerulean irises that once shimmered beneath the moonlight of Paris. A nose, which had once inhaled the fragrance of companionship. And lastly, those lips, the ones that always lingered for a moment too long whenever they parted. He could still feel the warmth of them upon his own, and gently his fingers caressed them, as if trying to relieve those instants.

A sudden pang of loss hit him, and he collapsed to his knees, beads of moisture running down his cheeks. He felt as if his heart had been torn out, ripped from his very flesh, and the raw agony of it spread like liquid fire through his veins. He raised the well-worn shirt to his face, breathing in the scent of a long lost love. It hurt so badly. His heart ached with an increasing ferocity, and for the first time since the incident, he wished he was dead. Anything to stem the waves of pain crashing down upon his weakened shoulders, the weight too heavy for him to bear.

The pale moonlight streamed through the windows, bathing him in its dull glow. He raised his eyes towards the heavens and uttered a single word. “Why?”

*

It was late when he first heard the news. He had prepared a special dinner, to celebrate his beloved’s birthday. As he laid the tables, arranging the forks and spoons side by side, laying down the plates and finally lowering the casserole on the table. Beside it stood a vase of flowers, which he had carefully picked from the garden they both tended with such loving care. A silver candelabra occupied the centre of the mahogany table, and as he slowly placed candles into each holder, the phone rang.

He laid the candles down, wiped his hands on a piece of cloth, and headed for the living room. Humming a slight tune, he tapped his feet in time with the song. Endless Love. A true classic they had listened to when they first fell in love. The tender vocals awash as they shared their first kiss, upon a moonlit beach, basking in the comfort of finally realizing they were meant for each other.

Still tapping his feet, his right hand reached out and grabbed the receiver, holding it up to his ear. The first couple of words stunned him, and his face turned pale as a statue. Slowly, he knelt to the ground, the receiver slipping from between his weakened fingers. As the first tear rolled down his cheek, all he could think of was that moment, when they realized what their feelings really meant.

*

It was a group of neighborhood kids, he was told. They were drunk, and out looking for trouble. Few of the words registered in his mind, as only a single thought occupied his mind; the fact that his one and only love was no longer there. He was alone, alone in a crowded world, which refused to accept him for who he truly is, and for some, even despised him.

Meeting his beloved was the one time he felt he belonged somewhere, that he wasn’t a lost soul in the middle of a sea of people. It was then that he had finally found meaning in his life, instead of just being a joke, one who was constantly bullied and abused just for being born.

For how long he had resisted the taunts and accusations raining down upon him like hailstones from those around him, and when he met the one he loved, he had thought that it was all worth it. The feeling of never blending in, of being an outcast; it was all finally worth it, because he had found true happiness. With it, he realized that nothing could hurt him, for there was an invisible shield of love that protected him from the malevolence in his life.

But now, it was all gone, lost forever because of a group of teenagers who had been raised to think that people like him were monsters. That they didn’t deserve to live on this Earth with the rest of them. That they are scum, and should be treated so. He didn’t really blame them; he blamed society at large, for distorting the truth in the minds of the young, teaching them to hate instead of love, to deny instead of to accept. But most of all, he blamed himself, for thinking that it would all work out, for thinking that people could change and accept them for who they were. It was all his fault. He had tried to defy gravity, and in the process, had come crashing to the ground.

*

As he fell through the sky, a single thought filled his mind.

I’m sorry.

Then he crashed through the waves, and he saw the darkness close above him, swallowing him into its gaping maw.

*

The first thing he realized was that his whole body ached. There was a warm taste in his mouth, and he realized that it was blood. His blood.

Am I dead?

He was lying on a rough surface, which rubbed against his raw skin as he struggled to get up. Slowly, painfully, he opened his eyes.

A beach.

When he finally managed to drag himself into a sitting position, he realized that he had been washed ashore, dumped on the beach like the bits of driftwood around him.

The sun was setting, filling the waters with a scarlet brilliance, too beautiful to comprehend.  For a moment his raging heart was calmed, like the waves lapping at his feet. With all the darkness surrounding it, there was still beauty in the world.

Then it hit him. He was alive. He had defied gravity, and lived. Maybe he did belong, after all.

Image taken from here.

:: download file :: listen on iPhone ::

Duration: 42:22 | 25.3MB | Mono |

My listener, turned friend, share her story of being a transgender woman. I have had some other transgender women on Ongline before. But they are usually at the later part of the transition process. I thought it would be nice to let people know in details of what the process is like, and hopefully inspire further understanding and compassion.

Cathy is generous enough to share her time and stories with us.

Lofty ideals aside, the week-long festival is basically a time for the minority group to gather, talk and share with the rest of the public.

Of course, any mention of sexuality – especially in regards to alternative sexuality – gets the belligerent religious zealots in our country extremely riled up. Picket signs and pitchforks get waved about as the scholarly exhibition is erroneously labeled as a hedonistic sex orgy. The surprisingly efficient cops come along and the festival is summarily banned.

With the potentially explosive issue being bantered about daily on the media headlines, there is a growing schism amongst the members of the GLBT community on how to deal with the unprecedented limelight. Even as the furore slowly dies down to become yesterday’s news, I think the issue has unearthed an unsettling rift in the community.

Despite our relatively small number, there is a clear separation of ideas amongst people like us: on one side we have the aggressive campaigners who advocate stridently marching for their civil rights while on the other, we have the more complacent gentlefolk who prefer things kept on the down-low without attracting much unwanted attention.

Time for war?

Speaking from the position I am in, it would be easy to just keep mum, hunker down and refrain from rocking the boat so to speak. Things are actually going good. Home life is doing fine, even after my recent coming out. Same for the workplace. Homosexuality isn’t a dire mental disease to be cured anymore and despite their own reservations, even the most conservative would hesitate to speak against it since it would contravene accepted medical practice. So publicly open homophobia amongst my colleagues is rare.

Being in a more fortunate place in life, isn’t it time to help our downtrodden brothers and sisters who are being discriminated against? I think there is a need to have someone literally out there and proud – and yes, shouting our slogans in public as well. Though I don’t see the need for twinkly pink parade floats careering down Bukit Bintang anytime soon, I think homosexuals and transgenders need a credible voice out there to make a gentle push for tolerance and change. Perhaps even an identifiable model to show that things actually do get better so that teens struggling with their sexuality would know for sure that a bright future is eminently possible.

And yes, though it would be a long time coming, I would like someday to repeal the damned antiquated 377A penal code. Having that particular Sword of Damocles perpetually hanging over our heads for the rest of our lives is a chilling prospect.

So yes, I am glad there are folks like the ballsy outspoken organisers of Seksualiti Merdeka who are willing to risk the painful brickbats of the conservatives to speak up for the issues close to our heart. People like these are the ones who made Stonewall happen. Though we might not have chosen these champions to represent us, that doesn’t make their sacrifices any less worthy of our respect.

There is more than enough hate in the world for people like us, we don’t have to add to it.

The banning of the Festival by the Malaysian Police is a fundamental disregard of the rights of the Malaysian Citizens to freedom of speech and expression.

Mr. Khalid Abu Bakar, Deputy inspector General of Police in his statement also shows blatant disregard to the Human Rights of the LGBT community in Malaysia, and clearly does not consider their rights as Human Rights.

We strongly urge the Malaysian authorities to reinstate the festival and celebrate the diversity that is truly Asia.

Poedjiati Tan & Sahran Abeysundara
Asian Representatives to the ILGA WORLD Board

The moral of the story permeates not only in the dialog but also in the explicit scenes of affection between Shireen and Atafeh and the displays of skinship. One must take a stance and be willing to take risks to change one’s circumstance. Given that homosexuality is a crime punishable by death in Iran, the movie bears a lot of risk for the people involved in the production of this film including the actors. Never mind that the film was shot in Beirut, Lebanon, the courage of the film’s crew is commendable for affording us the pleasure of peeking into an entirely plausible tribulations of a lesbian couple’s life in Tehran.

Apart from the occasional vagueness and abruptness in plot shifts of some scenes, this is a great movie to watch.

If you enjoyed the movie as much as I did or even if you haven’t, please show your support at http://www.takepart.com/circumstance

Circumstance Trailer. Link obtained from IMDB

So we are inviting you to submit your original artwork and creative pieces to the “Violence is Not Our Culture: The SOGI Project”. We will compile winning submissions and selected voluntary contributions into a bound plain paper notebook that is designed to raise public awareness regarding issues faced by the LGBTIQ community in Malaysia. By participating in this competition and contributing your creative pieces, you will help us say to all Malaysians, that in the face of violence, “silence is not an option” and that “violence is not our culture”.

KRYSS is an organisation that works with young people on the issue of discrimination and rights through creative platforms. KRYSS continues to adopt the vision that it was first founded on: “We are committed to a world where young people feel safe and empowered to be themselves, to define and express their own hopes, dreams and realities, and act upon them without fear of discrimination or violence. Where diversity, creativity and personal capacities are celebrated and nurtured, and each person regardless of gender is empowered in body, mind and spirit.”

Seksualiti Merdeka is an annual sexuality rights festival held in Kuala Lumpur, and represents a coalition of Malaysian NGOs and volunteers. “We believe that everyone in Malaysia deserves to be free from discrimination, harassment and violence for their sexual orientations and their gender identities. We believe it is our right to be responsible for our own bodies. We believe everyone is entitled to the freedom to love and the freedom to be, whether gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersexed, straight, asexual, pansexual, or simply fabulous.”

HOW TO ENTER

Theme: Artwork must send across the message that “Violence is not our culture” and that violence, stigma and discrimination against any member of the LGBTIQ community has no justification. Artistic as well as positive interpretations of the message is encouraged. The artwork may centre on any one or any combination of the Yogyakarta Principles ; or the 29 Ways towards an LGBTIQ-friendly Malaysia. The artwork may also use the six colours of the rainbow flag in any form or manner. Each artwork submission must be accompanied by an explanatory concept of the visual, written in either English or Bahasa Malaysia. Artists must also submit a personal message of their own to accompany each of their artwork submission.

Contest Eligibility. The competition is open to artists 18 years or older. Work must be original, and not photographs of the original. Original photography and original digital art are acceptable. Work will be judged on creativity, technical expertise, content as well as the artistic interpretation and effectiveness of the messaging. Artwork not meeting these four key criteria will not be considered during final judging. A bound plain paper notebook will be made from winning designs, so work will also be considered by ease of reproduction for this format and for the cover. Artists may enter as many works as they choose, but are only eligible to win one cash prize.

Voluntary Contributions. Artists may also enter voluntary contributions. Voluntarily contributed work must be original and can be in the form of photographs, artwork or poetry. Artists must submit a personal message of their own to accompany each voluntarily contributed creative piece. If creative piece is selected for reproduction, artist will be provided with one free plain paper notebook. Artists may only receive one free plain paper notebook irrespective of number of voluntary contributions selected for reproduction.

Media. Any two-dimensional medium reproducible by photographic process is acceptable. Three-dimensional work with a depth no greater than 3/8” is also acceptable.

Size. For those vying for the 1st prize cash award dedicated to designing the cover, artwork must be 21 cm (height) x 1.4 cm (spine) x 15 cm (width) x 1.4 cm (spine) x 5 to 10 cm (variable width for flip cover) with a bleed margin of 0.5 cm. See template (PDF file) attached. The width for the flip cover will depend on the artwork being submitted as cover design and the artist’s own decision. The design may be either vertical or horizontal.

Other artwork submissions (vying for the 2nd, 3rd and consolation prizes) must be 20.5 cm x 14.5 cm, with a bleed margin of 0.5 cm. The design may be either vertical or horizontal. Variations of any artwork submitted for the cover design may also be entered.

Format. All artwork must be sent as high-resolution (minimum 300 dpi) PDFs (recommended). High-resolution JPGs or Illustrator AI/EPS formats are also acceptable.

Cash Awards. Each of the winning artists will be eligible for Awards of Excellence. The first cash prize award of RM1,000/- will be given to the artwork chosen for the cover design based on the specifications provided above. RM500/- will be awarded for the second prize and RM300/- for the third prize. There will also be ten consolation prizes of RM200/- each. Artists may only win one cash prize.

Judging. Judging for the competition will be held a week after the closing date. Judges will comprise of both artists and activists of different backgrounds and experiences. Winners will be notified individually by phone or e-mail. Judges’ decisions are final.

Copyright. Artists may retain ownership over all their original artwork and voluntary contributions submitted. By entering their artwork and participating in this contest and project, artists hereby grant permission to KRYSS and/or Seksualiti Merdeka to reproduce the winning entries and selected voluntary contributions. Artists also hereby agree to KRYSS and/or Seksualiti Merdeka reproducing their artwork under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. This license lets others distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

Winning artworks will be featured alongside other LGBTIQ-centric text and visuals in the plain paper notebook. KRYSS and/or Seksualiti Merdeka reserves the right to feature all submitted artwork and creative pieces in other collaterals/printed matter for any purpose in relation to the documentation of violence, stigma and discrimination of the LGBTIQ community in Malaysia as well as in relation to the protection and promotion of the human rights of the LGBTIQ community in Malaysia.

To enter. Entries must be received by 11th September 2011. Entries should include full name of artist, mobile phone contact number, e-mail address contact, and a short bio (100 words) of the artist.

Entries must be e-mailed to: violenceisnotourculture @ gmail.com.

IMPORTANT: Both KRYSS and Seksualiti Merdeka are not responsible for the return of any artwork or if reproductions do not match the expectations of the artist. KRYSS and Seksualiti Merdeka reserve the right to use a standard cover for the plain paper notebook and to make any other alterations to the specifications of the bound paper notebook.

Full Article in Mandarin

On 7/30/2011, “Thomas”, 29 years old, and Apple, 27 had the distinction of being the first Malaysian lesbian couple to have their marriage publicized in two Malaysian newspapers, Sinchew Daily and The Star.

According to Sinchew, they were married in full traditional Chinese wedding ceremony complete with a roast pig offering to their ancestors. The wedding banquet were thrown for approximately 400 relatives and friends.

Thomas and Apple are both in the real estate business had dated for more than two years before deciding to tie the knot.

Johnson, the couple’s spokesperson at the wedding remarked “The couple, as any other couple truly in love, should be able to marry, have a proper wedding & banquet to celebrate their happiness with their friends & family.”

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TiltedWorld applauds the newspaper and the journalist for covering the event in a positive light.