AWARE Beauty Redefined Photo Competition

*AWARE Beauty Redefined Photo Competition*

an initiative for budding photographers that encourages them to challenge
and redefine interpretations of beauty.

Young women and men are requested to *submit photos* of a person/people that
they consider beautiful. Creative, new interpretations of beauty are
encouraged. Each entry should include a 100-word statement on why the
photographer considers the subject beautiful.

Top photographs will be featured in the AWARE Beauty Redefined
Travelling *Photo
Exhibition* at the public libraries, in a *Zo Cards* campaign, and in the
AWARE *2009 calendar*! *Prizes* will also be awarded to the top three
entries. Top photos will be selected based on the artistic and technical
expertise of the photograph, as well as the impact of the 100-word
statement. Entries should be submitted to redefined@aware.org.sg.

This is a great opportunity for budding photographers to gain *national
recognition* and *win prizes*.

This project was developed in response to growing concerns among young women
and men over body image. Recent reports have found that over 1 in 2
Singaporean teens feel they are too fat; over 8 in 10 want to change the way
they look; and 1 in 5 would consider plastic surgery. (Singapore Medical
Journal) As this is an issue that affects our young people, AWARE believes
we should all work towards improving the self-esteem of ourselves and those
in our society.

We kindly ask for your assistance to *help publicize our photo competition*.
We hope you may endorse the program by

1) printing and displaying our poster;

2) encouraging your members to participate;

3) emailing competition info to your members.

Feel free to contact me with questions at 6779-7137. We thank you for your
support in challenging the limited definition of beauty and improving the
self esteems of young women and men.

With Gratitude,

Tenley

Tenley D Peterson
Manager of Public Education & Public Relations

*AWARE
*Block 5 Dover Crescent #01-22
Singapore 130005

Tel: 6779 7137 | Fax: 6777 0318 | URL: www.aware.org.sg
Helpline: 1 800 774 5935 (3pm-9:30pm; M-F, except public holidays)

AWARE is Singapore's leading advocacy group dedicated to promoting gender
equality and understanding. Since its inception in 1985, AWARE has brought
women's perspectives to national issues and has focused on Research &
Advocacy, Public Education, and Direct Services. Our mission is to identify
areas for improvement in gender equality, encourage positive change, and
support women in realising their highest potential. We believe that gains
made by women are not gains made at the expense of men. Rather, they are
gains which benefit families and society as a whole. AWARE is a
not-for-profit non-government organisation and is funded solely by
donations, grants, and member subscriptions.

Feeling the fear but doing it anyway: Interview with Eileena Lee, gay activist in AWARENESS

Feeling the fear, but doing it anyway

What does it take to start an internet-based group for lesbians and bisexual women, create a resource centre for the gay community, and "come out" to your family? Awareness catches up with lesbian activist and active AWARE volunteer Eileena Lee.

By Tan Hui Yee

Tell me about yourself.

I am a 35-year-old lesbian, born and bred in Singapore. I've lived most of my life here, apart from one year when I worked in Taipei, something I enjoyed tremendously. I think all of us should experience working and living outside of Singapore at some point of our lives. For me at least, I came back loving Singapore more. If I were ever to leave Singapore, it would be because of the weather - I can do without the heat! Like most Singaporeans, I live in an HDB flat, with my mum and my eight-year-old Shihtzu, Cheeky.

Every other week, my nine-month-old nephew, Taylor, stays over for a couple of days so that my brother and sister-in-law get a bit of time off from looking after him. Some years ago, just as I was "coming out" to myself and "coming out" to the world as a gay woman, I also developed an interest for Buddhism. I like how simple it is. Interestingly, it was Buddhism (and also my dear friend Charmaine) that taught me how to appreciate Christianity. Recently I've taken an interest in photography. I like how it makes simple and ordinary things pretty.

How did you come to be involved in AWARE?

In 2001, two women committed suicide and there was a bit of hoo-ha over their lives prior to their tragic demise. What we read in the press, mostly the tabloids, were very scandalous and sensationalised. At that time I had already started "RedQuEEn!" (http://www.geocitie s.com/red_ qn/) - an internet discussion group for lesbians and bisexual women and women who are
questioning their sexuality - for about two years, and the tragic deaths of the two women got us thinking about what we could have done to prevent their deaths. We contacted Vera Handojo, then coordinator of the AWARE helpline, to help us train our volunteer counsellors. On a personal level, I wanted to give back to AWARE the kindness that Vera had extended to us at a time when
not many people were openly gay-affirmative. And so I've been with AWARE since then.

Why did you start "RedQuEEn!"?

Back then, there was absolutely nothing for gay women to turn to for support. The internet was their best bet. For women who were not "out", the internet was a safe haven for them to connect with each other. By "out", I mean being ready to tell people that they are gay. You see, we live in a
very heterosexist society and there is this unconscious assumption that all of us are heterosexual. Put yourself in the shoes of a gay woman: You grow up with only heterosexual role models around you. Your school environment is heterosexual. Your work environment is heterosexual. Your gay identity is never acknowledged. How would you feel? That was my personal experience.
When I was "coming out" as a gay person, I felt very alone and I felt that there was a need for a group to empower and support women like myself. That's why "RedQuEEn!" was formed.

Have things changed since you started "RedQuEEn!"?

In 1998, when I started "RedQuEEn!", I never thought it would grow to what it is today. We started with 17 women who responded to my email in a mixed gay mailing list. Now, we have over 1,300 subscribers. Back then when I did a search for "Singapore Lesbians" on the internet, the only links that showed up were links for pornography, nothing on support or empowerment for sexual minorities. Now, we have so many groups out there catering to the various needs of the people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or transsexual. It is a vast improvement from what I came out to in the 1990s. Now we even have The Pelangi Pride Centre (http://www.pelangip ridecentre. org/) which incorporates a Resource Library for people to go to for information and support. Instead of just bars and discos, we now have regular places for gay people, or for people who are questioning their sexual orientation, to hang out in.

What sort of challenges have you faced along the way?

Setting up the group itself was a huge challenge. At that time, there were hardly any openly gay people around. I had a lot of fear when I started the group. I had no idea if I would be breaking the law because the internet laws were so broadly worded. I was mindful to be a law abiding citizen,
though.

How did you deal with that fear?

I guess the need to go out to lend support to people who were isolated was greater than my own fear. I took a deep breath and did it.

What have you learnt from the work you do?

I think sometimes Singaporeans limit themselves by grumbling about this and that, instead of finding ways to solve the problem. I've learnt that anything can be done.

How do the people you encounter tend to respond when you tell them that you are gay?

Most of the time, people are supportive. I have "come out" to my heterosexual friends and all of them try to be supportive. We are still friends -- none of my heterosexual friends have cut me off after I've "come out" to them. I have to admit, though, that I was really afraid initially that my disclosure would end the friendships. Disclosing it to my family was a little more tricky, I took a few years before I told my parents that I was gay. It was challenging because I knew I had to deal with a lot of emotions and disappointments. Parents automatically assume that their children are heterosexual, so when you tell them otherwise, there is bound to be some disappointments - mainly because they have to readjust their expectations, but I am glad I "came out" to them. To me, honesty is essential to a good relationship. And because I love my family, I want to be honest with them.

Some people say that there is no need for gay people to "declare" their homosexuality, just like heterosexual people don't need to tell others that they are straight. What are your thoughts on this?

People need to know that just because we don't talk about gay people, it doesn't mean that they don't exist. And so to (those people who make this statement), I would say, why not? Often when people think about "coming out", they imagine gay people marching in parades and demanding rights. To me, "coming out" is simply sharing a part of myself which I don't have to be ashamed of. In my interactions with people, it is not uncommon for them to ask me "Are you married?" or "Do you have a boyfriend?" I don't really want to cook up some tale about a non-existent boyfriend or pretend that I am attracted to men. That would be when I tell them that I am gay. I feel that
once I start with a lie, I will have to come up with more lies to cover up that first lie, so why start in the first place? The bigger question is, will I be able to live with myself if I lie?

In a broader context, because we all grew up in an environment where gay people are laughed at and made fun of, "coming out" is necessary. It allows people, through their interactions with openly gay persons, to learn that these gay persons just as normal as them. When we keep quiet about our homosexuality, we help protect the environment which makes it okay for people to be unaware of gay people. It is this lack of awareness that keeps and limits us to an environment where people assume that being gay is wrong, when it is not.

What do you hope to see come out of the work you do?

I hope that one day no one will bat an eyelid when the words "gay", "lesbian," "bisexual", "transgender" , and "transsexual" are mentioned. I hope that one day no young person who identifies as a sexual minority will have to grow up feeling unsupported and alone.

How far are we from having that kind of environment now?

There's still a long way to go. We're just at the start of the journey now.My solution to get to there is very simple - but difficult to do. We just need every gay person to "come out" to his or her family. When that happens, there will be more people out there who know someone who is gay. When more people know someone who is gay, people will see that gay people are just normal people.

The current issue of AWARENESS "March 2007, Volume 13" is a collection of articles on topics like - HIV/AIDS, Teenage Sex Education and Homosexuality.

To Order AWARENESS ($15) or to make a donation to AWARE - Please call or write to:

Association of Women for Action and Research
Block 5, Dover Crescent, #01-22, Singapore 130005.
Tel: +65 67797137
Email: aware@aware. org.sg
Website: http://www.aware. org.sg

Charity Gala Premiere of Spider Lilies - in aid of AWARE

CHARITY GALA PREMIERE OF SPIDER LILIES - IN AID OF AWARE
Tuesday, May 29 2007, 9:00pm - 11:00pm

AWARE invites you to attend the premier of "Spider Lily" and help AWARE with its fund-raising efforts. Encore Films and Cathay Cinema have generously offered AWARE the evening's takings.
"Spider Lily" is an interesting movie and done in good taste. The two main leads, who are lesbians, explore the deeper sense of love, companionship and longing rather than sex. It is a movie that will help AWARE highlight its Sexuality Education Programme and its work on Body Images.

The charity tickets can be obtained from Cathay movie website tickets.cathay.com.sg and Cathay movie line (phone booking) at 6235 1155. Or any Cathay Cineplex.

Do please go for the premier.

You will be enjoying a good movie and supporting AWARE in its work at the same time.

For more information, visit http://www.encorefilms.com/spiderlilies

Need to bring sexuality into the open: AWARE

Need to bring sexuality into the open

Aware's sex education course equips kids with facts, skills to make wise choices

Monday May 28, 2007

Letter from Constance SingamPresident, Association of Women for Research and Education (AWARE)

We would like to respond to Mr Geoffrey Yeoh's concerns in his letter ("Parents be Aware of film's message", May 25) about our support of the film, Spider Lilies, and our comprehensive sexuality education programme.

Thank you, Mr Yeoh, for your support of Aware's goal of gender equality and your understanding and support of the work we do.

Aware welcomes open discussion and debate on issues, such as the one you have raised. We believe more openness leads to a better understanding of important issues and respect for individual choices.

We embrace diversity and individual choices, and are glad Singapore is now more open to discussing diversity. That films such as Spider Lilies and Brokeback Mountain have been or are being screened is a reflection of this more open and, hence, more healthy situation.

Aware's comprehensive sexuality education programme draws on established international programmes. It was developed over the course of a year in consultation with parents, youth social workers, teachers and academics from a range of institutions. As with our other programmes, it has been through a rigorous process of internal and external auditing and pilot testing. We have run the programme at secondary and post-secondary institutions, and received excellent feedback and requests for more sessions.

Young people need relevant information in order to protect their health and rights, and those of others. Research shows that comprehensive sexuality education is effective in providing adolescents with the tools, knowledge, skills, attitude and values to make responsible choices about their sexual health.

Our programme recognises that sexuality is not just about sexual intercourse. In addition to providing accurate information, it encourages students to explore their own values and develop the communication skills and self-respect necessary for positive and healthy living. It aims to replace silence and shame with information and skills.

By bringing sexuality into the open, young people are more likely to make wise, realistic and informed decisions. The programme also equips teens with the skills to resist peer pressure to have sex.

It was developed to complement other programmes and offer opportunities for healthy discussion in society about relationships and human sexuality because of the rising incidence of sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), teenage pregnancies and abortions. The latest figures show 678 of those aged between 10 and 19 sought help for STIs in 2005, compared to 256 in 2001. Between 1985 and 2004, 18 teens were diagnosed as HIV-positive.

From 2001 to 2005, Health Ministry figures show an average of 1,500 teen abortions annually. In 2005, nearly all the 1,279 girls were between 15 and 19, and unmarried. Our programme will have a dramatic impact on curbing STIs and unwanted pregnancies.

We recognise Mr Yeoh's concerns are based on newspaper reports of our position and the movie. I would like to assure him that had he attended our comprehensive sexuality education programme, he would have been comforted to learn it has a holistic approach and covers a broad range of human experiences.

We are open to more discussion with Mr Yeoh and invite him and other like-minded readers to meet us. We will be happy to share with him more about the work we do and hope to engage in a constructive dialogue.

TODAY: Parents, be Aware of film's message (May 25, 2007)

Parents, be Aware of film's message

Women's group 'support of lesbian lifestyle' upsetting

Friday . May 25, 2007

Letter from Geoffrey Yeoh

I was dismayed when I read the report, "Aware's controversial choice for charity gala premiere" (May 19-20).

It was highlighted that the Association for Women, Action and Research (Aware) had chosen a movie with a strong lesbian theme, Spider Lilies (picture), for its charity premiere next week.

What particularly shocked me was that the association' s president Constance Singam said the film "explores themes that Aware supports in its Comprehensive Sexuality Education, a programme for teens that helps them develop a healthy and positive attitude towards sexuality and of themselves".

She was also quoted as saying that Aware had previewed Spider Lilies, and found it done in good taste as, apart from the fact that its protagonists are lesbians, the story deals with love, relationships and body image.

To me, the fact that a lesbian-themed movie was selected sends a very public message that Aware is supportive of this lifestyle.

As a parent of a pre-teen daughter, I have aspirations of her growing up to be a successful professional in an environment where she can grow, develop and reach her full potential.

In this regard, I support Aware's goals of gender equality for all, which give both women and men optimal opportunities.

It would appear that Aware is deviating from this original objective and is now openly promoting a lesbian lifestyle among our women.

What is particularly disturbing is that, it seems, from Ms Singam's statement, to be targeting our teens.

As a parent, I find this unacceptable and strongly urge all schools and youth organisations to be mindful of Aware's position and not put our unsuspecting, impressionable teens at risk.

I do not know whether all members and volunteers of Aware support this policy but I know many of my female friends do not.