Stand up and be counted

There’s a storm brewing in Singapore over who is more equal than others.
Until a month ago, all “unproductive” forms of sexual acts have been banned in Singapore – anal and oral sex. So that was silly but fair, everybody couldn’t have “illegal” forms of sexual intercourse – straight, bisexual and gay. But in September 2007, the courts reversed that particular section of the penal code allowing anal and oral sex between two conscenting adults.

BUT only if they are a man and a woman.

That’s outrageous – pure, straightforward, undisguised discrimination.

It’s not so much about the right to have anal and oral sex (well….) but it’s really about equity. Why can’t gay people even have the basic right to have sex in Singapore? Can the Singapore goverment be as openly homophobic as that and get away with it?

Will Singaporeans stand up for themselves? Gay singaporeans at least?

It’s very heartening to see grassroot movements at repealing this anarchic penal code. The main galvanizing force has been the website www.repeal377a.com where people can (and should!) sign this petition to repeal the penal code. This petition is an open letter that will be sent to the Prime Minister on 19th October and has been signed by about 4000 people and counting.

Accompanying the petition is this really cool video by local entertainers. It’s really wonderful to see all these performers, straight and gay, standing up for their fellow singaporeans – someone has to do it, why not us?

I was in half minds about signing it since the paranoid “don’t rock the boat” Singaporean in me was thinking that it’s better not to get involved since I don’t really think it will make a difference to the government (or gahment as we singaporeans call the machine). But I was surfing blogs and I found this video blog that really caught my eye.

The writer (or broadcaster) was very sincere in a stream of consiousness way and made no attempts to mask who he is. For Singaporeans, this is very brave considering the social and political repercussions of being gay in Singapore. We’re definitely not as repressive as foreign media make us out to be but there is still a real stigma to being gay in Singapore.

But he did make me think that unless we gay people stand up for ourselves, why should we expect anybody else to do so?

I signed the petition, how about you?

Mr. and Mr. Happily Ever After

I hate to admit it but I just watched an Adam Sandler movie and quite liked it.

With boyfriend gone, my nights are suddenly free and I have been watching numerous TV shows and DVDs to pass the time. So yes, that means lots of “America’s Next Top Model” (doesn’t the “big momma is soooooo full of love” act ever get old?), Top Chef (Yeah Asian guy wins!) and “Brothers & Sisters” (why did Kevin’s boyfriend have to go to Malaysia? those natives don’t need no colonialism!)…

But tonight was an awkward night in between shows, oh what am i going to watch?

So I watched “I now pronounce you Chuck and Larry” because… ehm… it’s somewhat gay?

And I needed a comedy to put off rewriting my resume. Reinvention is always hard work,

I must say I’m quite surprised I liked it as much. I read all the reviews about it being somewhat patronizing in its approach to gay issues – let’s gloss over critical issues with some pink fairy stardust and “opps I dropped the soap” jokes.

And sure, there were tons of lamo gay jokes and silly gay stereotypes. But the movie was done in good spirit and there were quite alot of impassionate “our sexuality doesn’t define us” speeches, which was nice.

And it’s pretty funny! Kevin James and Adam Sandler have a natural chemistry making the whole movie was good natured fun. Yeah, I could get offensive about many of the stereotypes (and there were many) but the movie clearly wasn’t meant to be taken too seriously. The jokes might not be the most sophisticated but I don’t feel they were at our expense.

The movie also had gay cameos for icing, there was Richard Chamberlain (below: check out how hot he was when he was young!) and Lance Bass flying the GLBT flag.

And really, there’s only so many times you can say the “we are so oppressed, we need equal rights” speech to straight people.

I call it the “Will & Grace” dilemna – Will might be a sexless eunuch but being invisible is truly impotence.

Waiting for my man

Gosh, it’s been 2 months since I wrote in me blog.

Bad bad boy. Very bad.

Many things happened within these 2 months.

Summer came and left. Fall crept in and started blanketing us with her fog and cold. The trees are turning color… it’s a beautiful drive to work with the burst of red, yellow, orange and green.

And it’s October. The last quarter of the year. The prelude to christmas and New Year.

“Winding down”. That’s what we would say.

Some peace. A little tranquility. Less manic at the work place, clients less cantankerous, projects less menacing.

I quite like it.

And on top of it all, boyfriend J will reach Logan Airport in 45 mins. Tick tock. It’s been 3 months.

I miss him.