FCC Sunday Service (30 March)

SUNDAY SERVICE (ENGLISH)
30 Mar 2008 (Sun) - 10.30am
FCC Main Hall
56 Geylang Lor 23
Level 3, Century Technology Building
All are welcome!

Speaker
ANTHONY YEO
Transformation Series
____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ ____

Worship Leader - CHRIS YAP
Vocals - ELSIN SEOW
Keyboards - GARY CHAN, VICTOR LEE
Guitars - NATHAN GUO, EMELYN TAN
Strings - RAYMOND WONG
Drums - JIMMY TAN
Prayer - DANERT LOH
Communion - CYRUS HO
Service Pastor - SUSAN TANG

Click here for instructions on how to get to church
____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ ____


The FREE COMMUNITY CHURCH ( http://www.freecomc hurch.org/ ) is a congregation of diverse individuals and families gathering to worship and grow as a Christian community. Our vision is to plant and nurture Christ centred cell group communities which are relevant to the twenty-first century. We are an inclusive Church who desire to develop a vibrant heart relationship with God balanced by a deep thinking mind relationship with the Bible. We don't believe in easy pat answers to life's challenging questions but we believe in a great and loving God who can transcend all challenges and questions.

The FREE COMMUNITY CHURCH affirms the dignity of every human being, their families and communities while recognising that we each live imperfect lives in imperfect worlds. We thus need to rely totally on the grace of God through Jesus Christ. The FREE COMMUNITY CHURCH welcomes ALL people regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or economic status. We would love to have you as a part of our extended family.

If you have any questions about FREE COMMUNITY CHURCH, our ministries or our acitvities, please do not hesitate to drop us an email at info@freecomchurch. org.

Women's Nite 29th March: Am I Gay?

"I check out women on the streets."
"I am a tomboy."
"But I don't want to be a man..."

Is sexuality black or white? Or is it a spectrum? How do we sieve through
all the confusing messages and find out if we are really lesbian or
bisexual? This Women's Nite, join us as we give it a shot.

***

Women's Nite March 2008
Saturday 29th March, 7pm
Venue (in Singapore) will be disclosed upon registration.

Limited to 30 invites, so please register with your full name, contact
number, the full name/s of your guests, if any, and the type of halal food
or drink you would be contributing to the potluck.

Although Women's Nite is open to women of all orientations, please let us
know if you are straight, or are bringing along straight guests, so that we
can be sensitive to the needs of all women present.

Please send your details to
women.snite@gmail.com
[women
dot snite at gmail dot com]

Registration closes at midnight 28th March 2008

***

About Women's Nite

Women's Nite provides a safe, neutral and alcohol-free space for lesbians
and bisexual women in Singapore to discuss the issues relevant to their
lives.

The event, held on the last Saturday of every month, was started in December
2003. Over a potluck dinner, we hold discussions on wide ranging topics like
self acceptance, homophobia, relationships and identity. We also invite
special guests to field questions on legal rights and sexual health, and
conduct art and dance therapy nights.

To check out the past months' events, or find out more, please go to
http://women snite.livejournal.com
To get email updates on each month's event, please visit
http://groups. yahoo.com/group/women_
snite/ to
join our mailing list.

As far as possible, we would like to keep this space commercial free. To
advertise events
and projects, please email us at
women.snite@gmail.com

Today: Don't condemn gays: Moderate scholars (March 29)

Don't condemn gays: Moderate scholars

Weekend • March 29, 2008

JAKARTA — Moderate Muslim scholars said there were no reasons to
reject homosexuality under Islam, and that the condemnation of
homosexuals by mainstream ulema and many other Muslims was based on
narrow-minded interpretations of Islamic teachings, Indonesian press
reported yesterday.

Citing the Quran, Ms Siti Musdah Mulia of the Indonesia Conference of
Religions and Peace said one of the blessings for human beings was
that all men and women are equal, regardless of ethnicity, wealth,
social positions or even sexual orientation, the Jakarta Post said.

"There is no difference between lesbians and non-lesbians. In the eyes
of God, people are valued based on their piety," Ms Siti was quoted by
the news daily as saying.

Speaking before a discussion organised by non-governmental
organisation Arus Pelangi, she said homosexuality was from God and
should be considered natural.

Other speakers said the magnificence of Islam was that it could be
blended and integrated into local culture. "In fact, Indonesia's
culture has accepted homosexuality," Arus Pelangi head Rido Triawan
was quoted by the Post as saying. "In Ponorogo (East Java), there has
been acknowledgement of homosexuality."

Meanwhile, two conservative Muslim groups — the Indonesian Ulema
Council (MUI) and the Hizbut Thahir Indonesia (HTI) — have voiced
condemnation of homosexuality, the news daily said.

"We will not consider homosexuals enemies but we will make them aware
that what they are doing is wrong," MUI's deputy chairman Amir
Syarifuddin told the Post.

HTI's Rokhmat has several times asked homosexuals to repent and
gradually return to the right path, said the news daily.

ST Review: MM's reassuring comments seal researcher's move here (March 29)

March 29, 2008
MM's reassuring comments seal researcher's move here
By Chang Ai-Lien
IT WAS, in every sense, his dream job.

But if Professor Kerry Sieh had been handed $300 million on a platter
to start the region's biggest earth observatory a few years ago, his
answer would have been a firm no.

'I would not have come here if my partner could not have come with
me,' said Prof Sieh, who is gay.

But the words of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew changed his mind.

Though the male homosexual sex remains a crime in Singapore, MM Lee
had said in an interview last year that while Singapore wanted to
maintain its social norms, the Government should not pry on consenting
adults.

'We must take cognisance of the contemporary world that has become
more accommodating...

'Homosexuals are mostly born that way, and no public purpose is served
by interfering in their private lives,' said Mr Lee in an interview
published last July.

To Prof Sieh, who was on sabbatical at Nanyang Technological
University here last year, this was enough to show that attitudes
towards homosexuality here were changing.

'I'm no crusader, but I'm going to be myself,' he said.

Prof Sieh said the issue of whether he could take his partner with him
was the first one he raised with NTU when the university approached
him with an offer in October.

When NTU told him it had no objections, the 57-year-old said 'yes' to
the job of founding director at NTU's Earth Observatory of Singapore.

The facility will study plate movement, volcanic activity and climate
change.

Prof Sieh is giving up a 30-year career at the California Institute of
Technology to take up the appointment here full-time, and will move
here with his partner in August.

'I have developed a real love for South-east Asian earthquake
geology,' said Prof Sieh, whose current research interest is Indonesia
- the world's hot spot for giant earthquakes.

Being in Singapore will mean he is 'right next to the earthquake
experiment', he added.

'For me, it's a thrill that we're in a place that has the economic
wherewithal to take on something like this.'

He hopes his research will lead to earlier earthquake forecasts, so
disasters can be averted.

'The idea is not just to save lives, but to save livelihoods as well,'
he said.

His interest in nature started when he spent summer months on his
grandparents' farm in Iowa as a boy.

His work on the infamous San Andreas fault led to the discovery of how
large earthquakes are often triggered by it in southern California.

More recently, together with colleagues and students, he finished a
study of Taiwan's multitude of active faults and figured out how
earthquakes there are creating that mountainous island.

He is currently a member of the United States National Academy of
Sciences and chaired professor at Caltech's Tectonics Observatory.

On the big move here, Prof Sieh, who enjoys snow skiing, jogging and
gardening, added: 'I'm excited. You have to leave your nest eventually
and do something great, I hope.'

Pelangi Pride Centre is moving

Dear all,

As present venue sponsor Mox Bar and Cafe is closing
down, the Pelangi Pride Center will be moving to a new
address.

29th Mar will be our last day at Bianco (MOX).

From April onwards we will operate from 54 Rowell Road
(near Jalan Besar food center). Our opening hours
remain the same at 4-8pm.

We will be moving our books and funiture on the 30th
Mar (Sunday) between 5pm - 7pm. We need volunteers to
help with the move. If you would like to help, please
drop us at mail at pelangipridecentre@yahoo.com.

We hope to see you at our new location.

Nam Khim
for Pelangi Pride Centre

PPC is moving...

Dear all,

As our present venue sponsor Mox Bar and Cafe is
closing down, the Pelangi Pride Center will be moving
to a new address.

29th Mar will be our last day at Bianco (MOX).

From April onwards we will operate from 54 Rowell Road
(near Jalan Besar food center). Our opening hours
remain the same at 4-8pm.


We will be moving our books and funiture on the 30th
Mar (Sunday) between 5pm - 7pm. We need volunteers to
help with the move. If you would like to help, please
drop us at mail at pelangipridecentre@ yahoo.com.

We hope to see you at our new location.

http://www.pelangipridecentre.org

Fridae.com: Sun shines on Singapore Queer Cinema (March 26)

sun shines on singapore queer cinema
Zee

Filmmaker Sun Koh gathered six other directors to collaborate on an ambitious film experiment called Lucky 7. Not surprisingly, the film has some strong LGBT themes because four of the seven filmmakers are gay.

This year’s Singapore International Film Festival is marked by a strong presence of lesbian movies, lesbian documentaries and women filmmakers. One of those women is the petite, soft-voiced, but feisty 31-year-old Sun Koh.

[PIC]Last year, the Singaporean writer-director embarked on an ambitious film experiment which has never been carried out in Singapore before. She wanted to produce her first ever feature film. But instead of making it herself, she invited six other directors to play a game of “exquisite corpse” with her.

The game – invented by artists in 1925 – began with Sun directing a 10-minute movie. Subsequently, another director was asked to look at only the last minute of her movie and continue with the next 10-minutes of the movie. The game continued with each successive director until all seven directors have made their films.

The final result is Lucky 7, an ambitious mind-bending film that constantly twists and turns from a collision of styles, ideas, themes and genres. It is certainly one of the most intriguing Singaporean films ever made.

The seven filmmakers involved include gay multimedia artist Brian Gothong Tan, as well as the very talented Boo Junfeng, who is the curator of Short Circuit, an annual festival dedicated to LGBT short films. The other four filmmakers are Tania Sng, K Rajagopal, Ho Tzu Nyen and Chew Tze Chuan.

Four of the seven directors are gay. So perhaps not surprisingly, LGBT themes figure largely in some of the works.

Junfeng’s segment, for instance, deals with a transsexual character and his/her relationships with loved ones. Despite the potentially racy subject, Junfeng’s piece turns out to be the most delicate, graceful and transcendent part of the omnibus. I have rarely seen the issue of transgender identity treated with such tenderness and sensitivity.

Sun’s own segment is a quiet and moving drama about the fate of a man who has to care for his bedridden father, while Brian’s piece is an experimental dare that mixes live action with computer animation. Also very good is K. Rajagopal’s abstract piece on sexual identity, persecution and mortality.

Tickets for Lucky 7, which is screening at the Singapore International Film Festival on April 5 and 12, have been selling well.

Sun, who started out in the industry 11 years ago, says she initiated the project because “we Singaporean directors are too isolated, working on our own instead of with each other.” Lucky 7 came about because she wanted to see more collaboration – not competition for resources – between filmmakers.

She contrasts this situation to Malaysia where independent filmmakers such as Amir Muhammad, James Lee, Yasmin Ahmad and Tan Chui Mui routinely help each other out. They take turns to be, say, an actor or a cameraman or an advisor for each other’s productions. In recent years, many of their films have won acclaim and top prizes at prestigious film festivals like Pusan and Rotterdam.

“Now take me, for example,” she says. “I’ve been friends with Wee Li Lin (director of Gone Shopping) for years, but we’ve never had a chance to work on each other’s set.”

Co-director Rajagopal agrees wholeheartedly: “I’ve been making short films for over a decade, but I’ve always felt that I had to do it on my own, that I didn’t really know anyone else.”

From the looks of it though, Sun’s Lucky 7 project has succeeded in changing the “lonewolf” mentality among the filmmakers. All of them played numerous roles for each other’s segments, from art directing to sound recording to managing the catering.

Junfeng even came up with the beautiful story of a transsexual for his segment, because of the provocative images in Rajagopal’s segment – that of a long-haired man wearing bright red fingernails.

Sun jokes: “This might be your only chance to see the film. Because with all the gay innuendoes, it’ll probably never be shown on public screens again.”

Fridae is proud to be a supporting media of the 21st Singapore International Film Festival. The festival will be held from 4 to 14 April, with free programmes and short films screening from 28 Mar. Booking through SISTIC starts 11 Mar. For more information, visit http://www.filmfest.org.sg.

Mox is Closing

TNP: Tranvestite host's debut show too 'sensitive' for S'pore (Mar 25)

Transvestite host's debut show too 'sensitive' for S'pore
Man, he's shaking up talkshow scene

TOUTED as the Tamil-language Oprah Winfrey, Rose Venkatesan is making waves on Indian cable TV.

By Sheela Narayanan
25 March 2008

TOUTED as the Tamil-language Oprah Winfrey, Rose Venkatesan is making waves on Indian cable TV.

The twist? Rose was born as Ramesh Venkatesen, a former web designer with a masters degree in biomedical engineering from an American university.

On his 30-minute show Ipadikku Rose (Yours, Rose), the cross-dresser tackles topics considered to be taboo in Indian society like sexual harassment and sex workers.

And the show - broadcasted to more than 64million people in Tamil Nadu - had been getting international media attention even before it was aired on Star TV's Tamil-language cable channel, Vijay TV, on 28 Feb.

While the show is available to Vijay TV's audiences in India, Hong Kong and the US, Singaporeans won't get to see it yet.

Star TV spokesman told The New Paper that due to the 'controversial and sensitive nature' of the show, they are not ready to show it in Singapore.

In a telephone interview from Chennai, Rose told The New Paper that the initial response to the show has been good.

'A lot of people appreciate the show and women have come up to me and told me they love the show and I am very good,' he said with his hybrid Indian-American accent.

The first episode was on sexual harassment of women.

One of his upcoming episodes will feature Indian sex worker Nalini Jameela, who wrote her autobiography of how she became involved with prostitution.

Rose said: 'She was openly challenging the system of marriage. There is a false notion in Indian society that men will always be with the women they married. That is a myth.'

Attempts to contact Vijay TV's head of programming, Mr Pradeep Milroy Peter, were unsuccessful.

But in an interview with The New York Times, Mr Pradeep admitted that he was nervous about how the audience would receive the show and its transvestite host.

'VERY EXPERIMENTAL'

He said: 'We are crossing our fingers. The market has a craving for talk shows, but this one comes with a difference. It's very experimental.'

Rose had impressed Mr Pradeep and the rest of Vijay TV executives with his qualifications and confidence.

Rose said: 'With this show, I want to challenge and change society's hypocritical perception of transgender people.'

Mr Pradeep said: 'The show will be groundbreaking, but we have to think about our audience. South Indians are very reserved, very conservative.'

So sex before marriage will be discussed, but not gay relationships.

Are Singaporean Indian audiences ready for Rose?

One of them said no.

Mrs A Gopalan, 45, mother of two and a housewife, said: 'Not everybody is open to a talkshow like this. I think it is also not suitable for young people.'

Mr Govindaraju M, 57, a writer for a local production house, felt otherwise.

'We live in a multi-racial, cosmopolitan society. I don't see any problem with such a show on cable.

'And it's not as if it is on prime time, it is late at night. If people are offended, they don't have to watch it,' he said.

FCC Holy Week and Easter Service

EASTER WEEK SERVICE (ENGLISH)
FCC Main Hall
56 Geylang Lor 23
Level 3, Century Technology Building
All are welcome!


MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE (ENGLISH)
20 Mar 2008 (Thu) - 7.30pm
Speaker
MIAK SIEW



GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE (ENGLISH)
21 Mar 2008 (Fri) - 10.30am



EASTER SUNDAY SERVICE (ENGLISH)
23 Mar 2008 (Sun) - 10.30am
Please be seated by 10.15am!
Speaker
JORG DIETZEL
Who Moved My Rock?

ST: Censors pass controversial film (Mar 18)

March 18, 2008
Censors pass controversial film

A DOCUMENTARY about lesbians has been cleared by the Board of Film Censors to screen in next month's 21st Singapore International Film Festival.

Directed by Lim Mayling, Women Who Love Women: Conversations In Singapore has been given an R21 rating with no cuts.

It will be screened twice at Sinema@Old School on April 5, at 7pm and 9.15pm.
The 65-minute documentary revolves around three Singaporean women - Amanda Lee, 24, an undergraduate at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia; Sabrina Renee Chong, 40, a photographer; and Gea Swee Jean, 24, who works in business and IT marketing - talking candidly about their lives and loves.

The film was submitted to the censors on Jan 10 and was given the seal of approval last Wednesday.

Producer Ngiam Suling tells Life!: 'It is heartening and encouraging that alternative voices in Singapore are beginning to get heard, and we hope that audiences for the documentary will be diverse and not just primarily the lesbian and gay communities.

'We would be very happy if the documentary manages to create dialogue about the issues raised as well as a deeper understanding of some experiences of growing up lesbian in Singapore.'

The Singapore International Film Festival runs from April 4 to 14. Douglas Tseng
For ticketing details and programme schedule, visit www.filmfest.org.sg

ST Life!: Censors pass controversial film (March 18)

March 18, 2008
Censors pass controversial film
A DOCUMENTARY about lesbians has been cleared by the Board of Film
Censors to screen in next month's 21st Singapore International Film
Festival.

Directed by Lim Mayling, Women Who Love Women: Conversations In
Singapore has been given an R21 rating with no cuts.

It will be screened twice at Sinema@Old School on April 5, at 7pm and
9.15pm.

The 65-minute documentary revolves around three Singaporean women -
Amanda Lee, 24, an undergraduate at the Australian National University
in Canberra, Australia; Sabrina Renee Chong, 40, a photographer; and
Gea Swee Jean, 24, who works in business and IT marketing - talking
candidly about their lives and loves.

The film was submitted to the censors on Jan 10 and was given the seal
of approval last Wednesday.

Producer Ngiam Suling tells Life!: 'It is heartening and encouraging
that alternative voices in Singapore are beginning to get heard, and
we hope that audiences for the documentary will be diverse and not
just primarily the lesbian and gay communities.

'We would be very happy if the documentary manages to create dialogue
about the issues raised as well as a deeper understanding of some
experiences of growing up lesbian in Singapore.'

The Singapore International Film Festival runs from April 4 to 14.
Douglas Tseng

# For ticketing details and programme schedule, visit www.filmfest.org.sg

Sayoni Queer Women Survey 2008

Sayoni is proud to present the *Sayoni Queer Women Survey*,
2008.
This survey is aimed at queer, lesbian, bisexual and transgender women
living in Singapore, to gather essential information about the community, in
terms of…

1. Age, racial and religious composition

2. Educational and career background, and financial status

3. Social framework, in relation to their sexual orientation

4. Personal/Emotional status, in relation to their sexual orientation

5. Feedback, on *Sayoni* and on the community

We appeal to you to take this survey, if you happen to belong to the target
group. Just five minutes of your time can help us learn how to better help
you and the community as a whole, as well as serve as a record of progress
throughout the years.

All information, once collected and analysed, will be made publicly
available.

Please be reassured that this survey is completely anonymous. Individual
responses will not be revealed, and will not be traceable to the individual
user.

Please help spread the word around, to your queer female friends. We aim to
capture people from all social strata in this survey.

http://www.sayoni.com/surveyphp/index.php?sid=7

If you wish to see the reports from last year, please go here:
http://blog.sayoni.com/surveyreports/
Thank you for your time!

--
The Sayoni Admin Team
www.sayoni.com
To Empower Asian Queer Women

FCC Sunday Service (16 March)

SUNDAY SERVICE (ENGLISH)
16 Mar 2008 (Sun) - 10.30am
FCC Main Hall
56 Geylang Lor 23
Level 3, Century Technology Building
All are welcome!

Speaker
GARY CHAN
Transformation Series
____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ ____

Worship Leader - KENNY ONG
Vocals - SHANE LOO, CHRIS YAP
Keyboards - ERNEST THIO, VICTOR LEE
Guitars - NATHAN GUO, KELVIN NG
Strings - RAYMOND WONG
Drums - JIMMY TAN
Sound - QINGLONG LUO
Video - TBA
Prayer - JAIME LOW
Communion - KENG HOCK PWEE
Service Pastor - JOSHUA TAN

Virtueonline.org: A Pansexual Friendly Lambeth Will Be Knockout Blow to Orthodox Anglicans (March 11)

A Pansexual Friendly Lambeth Will Be Knockout Blow to Orthodox Anglicans

News Analysis

By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
3/11/2008

There is still plenty of time for orthodox Anglicans around the Communion, especially the CAPA bishops, to make up their minds as to whether or not they will attend Lambeth in July.

So far, archbishops and bishops from Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, the Southern Cone, Sydney, a small group of Americans and one Canadian bishop have said they will not go. Uninvited Anglican bishops, who probably would not go if asked at this point, include the Bishop of Recife, and the bishops of AMiA and CANA. There is no word if San Joaquin Bishop John-David Schofield will be uninvited, now that he has left The Episcopal Church and made the Southern Cone his new ecclesiastical home. Also, we do not know, at this time, if there are some Common Cause Partnership bishops who will be going to Lambeth. Many, if not all of these archbishops and bishops will be attending GAFCON in the Holy Land a month prior to Lambeth.

The majority of CAPA bishops from Africa have not publicly said if they plan to attend, but it is expected they will as their airfares, accommodation and walk about money are mostly being provided by the U.S. There is always the hope they will have time to buy stuff at Harrods in London and get an invitation to see the Queen at the standard Garden party she gives. One doesn't know, at this time, how much arm-twisting is going on behind the scenes in Africa. We will know more in time. A retired orthodox archbishop, I spoke with, says that CAPA bishops are enamored by things British, and Canterbury still has a strong psychological pull for many of them.

Another reason some might consider not going is that, although New Hampshire Bishop Gene Robinson has not been invited, all those who voted for him are invited. What is the moral distinction? They are all unrepentant.

Final numbers of who will attend are still uncertain. As of now, about 600 of the 800 bishops invited to Lambeth have said they will go, but the truth is they represent only about 25% to 30% of the Anglican Communion whereas the 200 bishops attending GAFCON represent somewhere between 75% to 80% of the communion!

Orthodox theologians and archbishops across the communion are still divided as to whether orthodox bishops should or should not attend. Foremost among those who believe everyone should go to Lambeth include the Rev. Dr. Peter Toon, President of the Prayer Book Society USA;, Dr. Michael Poon, Singapore,. Director, Centre for the Study of Christianity in Asia; Canadian-based Anglican Communion Institute theologians; Archbishop Drexel Gomez (West Indies); and at least 25 evangelical Church of England bishops.

All have pled for everyone to attend and challenge the issues head on, or face the possibility that the church's traditional Christian sexual ethic - lifelong heterosexual marriage between a man and woman, with a positive celibacy for all others - well may be lost. There is some truth to this that should not be overlooked, but it is not the whole truth.

Archbishop Gomez is concerned that, if orthodox bishops do not attend, it could signal a rebellion by liberal and revisionist bishops who would see this as a golden opportunity to set about reversing Resolution 1:10 passed overwhelmingly at Lambeth 1998.

Even though the Design Team has laid no ground- work for such legislative resolutions American and British homosexuals could (and probably will) push their pansexual advocates among liberal bishops hard and press Dr. Rowan Williams, himself an advocate of homosexuality (within committed relationships), to consent to vote for such a resolution overturning 1:10.

Increasingly, there is evidence that American and British pansexualists are planning a coup d'etat against orthodox bishops, intimidating and cowering them into submission. A watchful liberal press will accuse orthodox bishops of homophobia, if they so much as raise their heads above the sodomite ramparts and suggest that homosexual behavior is dangerous to your body, not to mention your soul.

Dr. Lisa Severine Nolland, writing for Anglican Mainstream (http://www.anglican-mainstream.net), put it succinctly when she wrote, "the very air of Lambeth 2008 will be mandatory gay-friendly and gay-affirmative, which is one reason Changing Attitude (CA), et al., is so insistent that all come, all be present." She might have added that the unofficial Episcopal pansexual organization Integrity plans to send a contingent of homosexual activists to Lambeth to support Changing Attitude in making victims out of homosexuals not invited to Lambeth and much more.

Nolland believes that Lambeth has already been lost. She says that GLBT advocates and allies are matter-of-fact, relaxed, confident, chilled - even assertive. And why should they not be? It is fully to be expected that they will be on the inside, helping to run Lambeth in the offices of the secretariat, press corps etc., Lambeth cannot "happen" without significant volunteer help from the staff of western bishops. What is incontrovertible, though, is that CA, et al., is simply thrilled about Lambeth - is presently raising large amounts of money to pour into it - is gearing up to be an integral part of it.

My own observations of Changing Attitudes confirm Nolland's. At Dar-es-Salaam, the Rev. Colin Coward and his Nigerian counterpart Davis Mac-Iyalla were given open access to Archbishop Ndungane (Southern Africa). There were photo ops with Mrs. Jefferts Schori and other pro-homosexual archbishops. The rest of the media were warned off trying to speak to the Archbishops as they had been sequested in a "ring of steel" silence. Coward told this writer that he and his organization were making great progress. The number of archbishops refusing to take communion with Frank Griswold at Dromantine was 22; that figure whittled down to 8 in Tanzania. The message is clear, given time and the Anglican Communion's pansexualists will win the day, helped along by the Archbishop of Canterbury whose views are all too manifestly clear on the subject (see S.P.R.E.A.D. document http://tinyurl.com/2xh55q).

Nolland nails it when she says, "I believe it will be almost impossible for the conservative voice to speak up or be heard, let alone be taken seriously. As the CoE's recent 'Gay Wednesday' synod debate clearly demonstrated, the 'Hear My Pain' line - which is powerful, no doubt of it! - works its magic and shuts the potential opposition up efficiently and effectively. The conservative position is continually back-footed and on the defensive, reminiscent of those posed with the question of whether they had stopped beating their wife (or husband) yet. And in relation to this Lambeth, of course, we all realize that Rowan Williams fully supports and actively endorses partnered lesbian/gay clergy in the CoE (think 29 November 2007) - while there are just under 200 Civil Partnerships (think Gay Marriage - they do!) of Anglican clergy and laity registered with CA alone. At some point in the very near future, the penny will drop and people across the theological spectrum on this fair isle will realize that in fact, significant parts of the CoE mirror and echo TEC perfectly - but lack the courage and honesty to admit it in public."

The Archbishop of Canterbury and ultra-liberals like Frank Griswold and now Mrs. Jefferts Schori talk much about "conversation" and "listening". What we have learned over the years is that conversation is specifically designed to wear down conservatives till they fall over themselves in agreement with liberals and revisionists about homosexuality. It was never designed to seek out the truth from Scripture, history, science or reason. "Truth" is about hearing someone's story, feeling their pain, and then agreeing with them. If, God forbid, a liberated and healed homosexual and/or lesbian stands up and says "Once I was blind, but now I see", THEY are accused of being self-loathing queers who won't admit the truth about themselves!

You can never win arguments with pansexualists; they will get you going or coming. The only arguments they can never win are: the medical argument, the shortened life-span, total biblical prohibition (except of course if you say that Jesus was a queer because of his relationship with the 'beloved disciple'), and saying that First Century Biblical writers like St. Paul had no idea about committed same-sex relationships. So long as they can present their case as being the victim in the court of public opinion, and present the other side as homophobic, they win. Changing the laws help them in the secular courts.

Which brings us to Gene Robinson.

At the TEC's House of Bishops meeting in Camp Allen, Texas, this week it was announced (for the umpteenth time) that Robinson will not be getting an official invitation to Lambeth. He turned down an opportunity to make his case as an "exhibit" in the "marketplace" for parachurch ministries. But does that mean he won't go?

Of course he is going, and he is going for one reason and one reason only - to make his case before the media as a martyr for the cause of sodomy. You can be sure that the liberal press, led by the orthodox-hating broad sheet newspaper "The Guardian", will lead the charge in declaring to the world that Robinson is the victim of a homophobic Archbishop of Canterbury and fundamentalist African bishops who know nothing about inclusivity and diversity. They will paint Robinson and his partner (who will have just gotten married and be on their honeymoon) as a couple and that, if the whole world could see that they are just like everybody else, all would be well. Changing Attitude and Integrity will double team and hold many press conferences. The BBC will fall all over itself, telling the world, in sound bites, that heterosexuals, who just don't get it, are treating Robinson horribly.

Nolland, in her critique of why bishops should not attend Lambeth, cites authors Marshall Kirk and Hunter Madsen, in their book After the Ball: How America Will Conquer Its Fear and Hatred of Gays in the 90s (NY: Doubleday, 1989), "According to our authors, 'Coming out makes an enormous contribution to the fight against homohatred, since it generally provides an ideal opportunity to activate the psychological mechanisms we have called desensitization, jamming and conversion. Here's how it works: First, coming out helps desensitive straights. As more and more gays emerge into everyday life, gays as a group will begin to seem more familiar and unexceptional to straights, hence less alarming and objectionable ... Second, coming out allows more jamming of the reward system for homohatred. Jamming, you'll recall, means interrupting the smooth workings of bigotry by inducing inconsistent feelings in the bigot ... Jamming can work, even if open gays merely stand around homohaters without saying a word ... Third, coming out is a critical catalyst for the all-important '"conversion'" process, as well. Conversion is more than merely desensitizing straights or jamming their homohatred; it entails making them actually like and accept homosexuals as a group, enabling straights to identify with them.' (pp. 167-168). For our authors, if one likes X - and X is lesbian or gay - one will endeavour to approve of X's lesbianism or gayness."

Alleged homo hater Nigerian Archbishop Peter Akinola has gone on record saying that orthodox bishops (mindful of the presence of Robinson and other gay activists) would be the continual target of activist campaigners and media intrusion during Lambeth. "In these circumstances, we could not feel at home. All of us have attended Lambeth before," he wrote.

"We have come to the conclusion, from the failure of the instruments of the Communion to take action either to discipline the Episcopal Church or to protect those who have asked the Communion for protection, that there is no serious space for those of an orthodox persuasion in the councils of the Communion to be themselves or to be taken seriously."

If orthodox bishops change their minds which now seems highly unlikely as GAFCON is a done deal, then they should know what they are getting themselves into. They should not be blind to a media blitz that will paint them as homohaters. There will be no honest discussion of the issues, that day is done.

Collect the new herstory party card

Collect the NEW Herstory Party Card
Never miss a great party again with this newly launched Herstory Party
Card.
Specially for all Herstory Parties Supporters, collect the NEW Herstory
Party Card and claim your perks.
Herstory has lined-up a year's worth of great fun and surprises for you.
Collect a stamp each time you attend our Herstory party. Every 3 stamps
will entitle you to a FREE entry to our party. Get all 9 stamps and you
will receive a fabulous mystery gift! (It's so good that you must owe
it, serious!)
Party on grrls, and we'll see you there.

Herstory Monthly Parties, Calendar of Events

DATE VENUE
10 APR - THE BOILER ROOM, St James Power Station
08 MAY - THE BOILER ROOM, St James Power Station
12 JUN - ZOUK
10 JUL - ZOUK
14 AUG - THE BOILER ROOM, St James Power Station
11 SEP - ZOUK
09 OCT - THE BOILER ROOM, St James Power Station
13 NOV - THE BOILER ROOM, St James Power Station
11 DEC - ZOUK

Keep your Party Entry Ticket for 3 Days of Super MOOKS Shopper
Bring up to 10 friends to shop at MOOKS, The Heeren Shops #03-13 to
enjoy
1 for 1 privilege shopping on 14th, 15th and 16th March 2008
EXCLUSIVELY for Herstory Party Ticket Holder to ZOUK on 13 March 2008.

Herstory @ZOUK
13 March 2008
Herstory presents NewUrbanMale Showcase.. SUMMER PARTY 2008

Join us for some bikini fun at Herstory 1st Indoor Beach Party.
Early Hour (9-10pm) Vocal House Remix by Guest DJ.
Treat yourself to a stage full of Herstory sexiest Babes and gorgeous
Hunks! Plus..
Featuring some of the top brazilian models in BIKINIS.. oooohh lah lah..
DON'T MISS THIS EYE CANDY TREAT!! It's a show you don't want to miss!!

Keep your Party Entry Ticket for 3 Days of Super MOOKS Shopper
Bring up to 10 friends to shop at MOOKS, The Heeren Shops #03-13 to
enjoy
1 for 1 privilege on 14th, 15th and 16th March 2008
EXCLUSIVELY for Herstory Party Ticket Holder to ZOUK on 13 March 2008.

Collect the NEW Herstory Party Card
Never miss a great party again with this newly launched Herstory Party
Card.
Specially for all Herstory Parties Supporters, collect the NEW Herstory
Party Card and claim your perks.
Herstory has lined-up a year's worth of great fun and surprises for you.
Collect a stamp each time you attend our Herstory party. Every 3 stamps
will entitle you to a FREE entry to our party. Get all 9 stamps and you
will receive a fabulous mystery gift! (It's so good that you must owe
it, serious!)
Party on grrls, and we'll see you there.

Sign up for 1 Year of Herstory BLACK to receive:
Privilege online surfing @www.herstory.ws
Herstory Black Membership Card valid for 1 year
1 FREE Party Entry Pass
Roxy beach bag
LePride's Car Decal

Don't miss Herstory Grrls Only Party happening at ZOUK and The BOILER
ROOM at St James Power Station.
Whether you want to sit and chat or dance and cruise, you're guaranteed
to find something you'll like at Herstory Party. See ya..

Showtime
SUMMER Bikinis Show starts at 11pm

Party Theme
Wear your sexy beach wear. For the first time ever, party at Zouk with
your bikinis and beach shorts. How about that? FREE ENTRY if you wear
your havaianas flip flop.

Programme Highlights
Chillout 9pm-10pm (Vocal House Remix by Guest DJ)
Showtime SUMMER Bikinis 11pm
Chart Topping Hip Hop and Sexy R&B Dance Music 11.45pm-2.30am (by Zouk
resident DJ)
Pop Hits Dance Music till 3am (by Zouk resident DJ)

Drinks Promotion
One for One on all standard housepour 9pm-10pm

Admission
No Cover Charge
Applies to all members/non members
Herstory Members - $4
Non Herstory Members - $8
Entry for men - Subject to Approval at Door ($12)
POLICY : Mainly womyn with men as guests

LOCATION
17 Jiak Kim Street Singapore 169420

MRT / BUS
Bus 16

OPENING HOUR
9pm - 3am
Every 2nd Thursday of the Month.

See you at the party.

Cheers,
Cary
Herstory

Women's Nite: Am I Gay? (March 9)

Women's Nite - 29 March 2008

Topic: Am I Gay?
"I check out women on the streets."
"I am a tomboy."
"But I don't want to be a man..."

Is sexuality black or white? Or is it a spectrum? How do we sieve through all the confusing messages and find out if we are really lesbian or bisexual? This Women's Nite, join us as we give it a shot.

FCC International Women's Day Service (March 9)

SUNDAY SERVICE (ENGLISH)
9 Mar 2008 (Sun) - 10.30am
FCC Main Hall
56 Geylang Lor 23
Level 3, Century Technology Building
All are welcome!

Speaker
NGIAM SU-LIN
Celebrating International Women's Day 2008

Worship Leader - WAILING LIONG
Vocals - ELSIN SEOW, ELSA TAY
Keyboards - YVONNE TENG, VICTOR LEE
Guitars - EMELYN TAN, NATHAN GUO
Drums - JULIA SOH
Sound - YENMEI PHOON
Video - VERON TAN
Prayer - RACHEL ROQUE
Communion - JAIME LOW
Service Pastor - SUSAN TANG

Singapore Book Club: The Lies That Build a Marriage (March 6)

Singapore Book Club

Join us in March as we discuss Suchen Christine Lim's book, The Lies That Build a Marriage.

Date: Friday, 28 March 2008
Time: 7-8:30pm
Venue: Earshot, The Arts House (1 Old Parliament Lane)
Admission is Free

To register, please email info@bookcouncil. sg

PPC presents "Journey to the Top" (March 15)

Pelangi Pride Centre presents -
"Journey to the Top" by adventurer, author and
motivational speaker, Khoo Swee Chiow

Khoo's story is one of journeying from the foothill of
Bt Timah to the top of the world. A journey that
transformed his life drastically. He is constantly
fascinated with the power of body, mind and soul.
He lives by the words "Dare To Dream".

Come share his life journey on 15th March 2008 @
Pelangi Pride Centre.

Swee Chiow's books "Singapore to Beijing on a Bike"
and "Journeys to the Ends of the Earth" will also be
on sale. http://www.daretodream.com.sg/book.htm

RSVP - To sign up, please email [pelangipridecentre at
yahoo dot com] to RSVP with your name, contact number,
the name/s of your guests.

Details at a Glance
Event: "Journey to the Top" by Khoo Swee Chiow
Date: Saturday, 15th March 2008
Time: 4pm
Venue: Pelangi Pride Centre @ Bianco
Cost per person: $6 (cost of 2 soft drinks and finger
food)

ST: Offensive online content: MDA investigates all feedback (March 1)

March 1, 2008
Offensive online content: MDA investigates all feedback
By Lynn Lee
NOMINATED MP Thio Li-ann yesterday asked what action the Government
would take against those who posted offensive content online, and
whether it monitored television programmes for objectionable content.

For instance, if laws were violated, would it help persons defamed
online to identify the relevant Internet service providers?

'Online defamation may be considered a private matter although the
Media Development Authority (MDA), as gatekeeper, may bear
complicity...owing a duty of care to protect individual reputation,'
she said.

Senior Minister of State for Information, Communications and the Arts
Balaji Sadasivan assured her that the MDA would investigate all
feedback. Anyone could lodge complaints and on average, MDA receives
one to two a month.

It would have no qualms about using the law on those who made remarks
to incite racial and religious hatred.

But otherwise, it would continue to regulate Internet content with a
light touch, he said.

He added that libel and defamation lie outside the MDA's scope of
regulation, but online content is subject to existing laws, such as
the Penal Code.

As for TV content, Dr Thio cited a letter by Mr Bennie Cheok published
in the The Straits Times Online Forum. Mr Cheok had complained about
the screening of a programme during prime cartoon time on a Sunday,
that portrayed a gay couple with a child.

Dr Thio said that the show violated screening rules that require
themes like homosexuality to be 'cautiously treated and not glamorised
and endorsed'.

During last October's parliamentary debate on amendments to the Penal
Code, Dr Thio had made an impassioned plea for sex between men to
remain a crime here.

Dr Balaji said the MDA had received a complaint about the show and was
looking into the matter.

But he also pointed out that the show was part of a series on home
decoration and design. That particular episode was about a game room
in a home of two men and a child.

Their relationship was an 'incidental feature' of the programme, Dr
Balaji said, and Singaporeans would 'need to take a balanced view'.

He stressed that TV, especially free channels, would continue to
promote traditional family values.