In this episode, the final one of this season of Semua Kita, Lip Sin tells us about the early Pink Dots. We also hear about the Bear Project, at the time one of the largest LGBTQ groups in Singapore. It reflected the new diversity in the queer community in which multiple different identities were encompassed by the LGBTQ umbrella. These groups were an essential contribution to the success of Pink Dot. He also tells us about the early anxieties he had about the authorities as one of the organizers of the event, what it was like working with the police, having to deal with safety concerns in the wake of the Orlando shooting and how the messaging of Pink Dot was also tweaked with time. Other subscription, listening and following options here: ⁠https://bit.ly/m/semuakita #lgbtq #queer #oralhistory #singapore

As Lip Sin tells us, the retention of Section 377A after the penal code review in 2006 was a setback to the LGBTQ community in Singapore, but it also set in motion conversations about how to respond, and an exploration of what other means were available to the community to actively seek its repeal. At the same time, Speakers' Corner in Hong Lim Park became available as a place for speeches and demonstrations, including a LGBTQ Pride-type event. Pink Dot emerged in this context. Lip Sin tells us about the influences and principles which literally shaped the idea of a pink dot. Other subscription, listening and following options here: ⁠https://bit.ly/m/semuakita

#lgbtq #queer #oralhistory #singapore

In this episode of Semua Kita we discuss the penal code review of 2006 which led to the removal of Section 377 but the retention of Section 377A which specifically targeted the gay community. The rising tide of hatred this unleashed, channelled through the advent of social media, transformed the web from a place of safety to one of harm for many LGBTQ Singaporeans. Yet, as Lip Sin tells us, this also galvanized the community in Singapore, leading to the submission of a Parliamentary petition and a debate which aimed to repeal this law the following year. Unfortunately, it was unsuccessful, but the conversation it precipitated was an important stepping stone for change. Other subscription, listening and following options here: ⁠https://bit.ly/m/semuakita #lgbtq #queer #oralhistory #singapore

In this episode of Semua Kita, Lip Sin talks to us about Fridae.com, the Nation Parties and their place in Singapore's queer history. He describes their impact on the LGBTQ community here, and how their banning led to the formation of IndigNation. The mid 2000s also saw a change in the political climate for these Singaporeans who were increasingly marginalized. Other subscription, listening and following options here: ⁠https://bit.ly/m/semuakita #lgbtq #queer #oralhistory #singapore

As an active member of most of Singapore's modern queer groups since the 90s, including being part of many of the groups and events we have heard mentioned in the course of these episodes, like ATLUS, Nation Party, Fridae.com, IndigNation, Pelangi Pride Centre, Oogachaga and more, Choo Lip Sin has had a front row seat in observing how the LGBTQ+ community has grown in the last three decades. In this episode we step back in time to hear about how on-line connections like bulletin boards and internet relay chat in the early days of the internet brought the community of largely English-speaking gay and bi- men together in the mid 90s. We hear about groups like Men After Work (MAW), HongLimPark.com, SGBoy and Blowing Wind. This coincided with the more open governing style of the then Prime Minister, Goh Chok Tong which led to the blossoming of spaces for self-expression from karaoke bars to saunas, and the flowering of queer theatre in Singapore in what seemed like a short-lived golden age for the LGBTQ scene here. He describes how that changed in the mid 2000s, and why Section 377A then became the focus for activism when it had not been that significant in the decade before. Other subscription, listening and following options here: ⁠https://bit.ly/m/semuakita #lgbtq #queer #oralhistory #singapore

In this episode of Semua Kita, we continue our conversation with Miak, this time to understand his personal journey of coming out. He tells us how he found a gay community which strengthened his affinity for LGBTQ activism, and how he was eventually drawn to Christianity which led to his current involvement with the Free Community Church, an LGBTQ-affirming church in Singapore. Other subscription, listening and following options here: ⁠https://bit.ly/m/semuakita #lgbtq #queer #oralhistory #singapore

One of the key events of IndigNation was the Pink Picnic, so named because LGBTQ people could gather in the Botanic Gardens on National Day. In this episode Miak tells us about what was, in many ways, a precursor to Pink Dot. As has been mentioned, IndigNation was organized in response to the banning of Nation, a circuit party which was held on Sentosa. Miak talks about gay and lesbian advocacy in that period as a time of pragmatic resistance, but it was also a time at which the government itself was becoming more pragmatic. As the community diversified and the interests of individual members of PLU diverged, many new groups and events sprang up which in turn led to the eventual closure of PLU. Miak explains how this happened. Other subscription, listening and following options here: ⁠https://bit.ly/m/semuakita #lgbtq #queer #oralhistory #singapore

Miak Siew is well known as the currrent executive pastor of the Free Community Church, but he has been involved with gay and lesbian advocacy in Singapore for over a quarter century. In that time he has been a member of groups we have already heard about, like People Like Us, and participated in many of the on-line spaces which have been mentioned, like SigNel, Sintercom and Blowing Wind. In this episode he gives us an overview of the gay liberation movement in Singapore from the late 90s. Miak was particularly instrumental in putting together IndigNation and describes the kinds of events which were held over this early Pride festival, focusing on how it navigated the vagaries of Singapore's decency laws at the time. He tells us about the first Pink Run and the anxiety he went through as its organizer. Other subscription, listening and following options here: ⁠https://bit.ly/m/semuakita #lgbtq #queer #oralhistory #singapore