Pelangi Pride Centre presents "The Celluloid Closet" and "Sex Change Soldier"

Details at a Glance

Event: Screening of "The Celluloid Closet" and "Sex Change Soldier"
Date: Saturday, 08 Nov 2008 (081108)
Time: 4pm
Cost per person: $6 (cost of 2 drinks and finger food)
Venue: Pelangi Pride Centre
http://www.pelangipridecentre.org/contact/contact.htm

RSVP - This event is by invitation only.
LIMITED to only 30 pax, prior registration is required.
For an invite - please email [pelangipridecentre at yahoo dot com]
with your name (in full), contact number, the name/s of your guests.

RedQueen Celebrates 10 years!

*where - Pelangi Pride Centre
*when - 4th October 2008
*time - 8.30pm

*for women only

*by rsvp only

*please rsvp to [redqueen underscore at hotmail dot com] with your
full name and a contact number.

CONGRATULATIONS REDQUEEN! WELL DONE! :)

Pelangi Pride Centre Re-Opens on 19 April

Dear all

Just a gentle reminder that Pelangi Pride Centre re-opens in our new
home - 54 Rowell Road (in Little India), TODAY (19 April) from 4-8pm

For directions on how to get to the new PPC:

Come into Hindoo Road from Jalan Besar. Look for tall HDB block 639 at
the end of the road. Corner terrace house with grapevines growing.
Come in from the back door.

Take care and see you!
Pelangi Pride Centre
pelangipridecentre at yahoo dot com

Pelangi Pride Centre has moved

Dear all,

A big "Thank You" to all the volunteers and The Bears who helped out
with the big move on Sunday 30 March 2008.

Pelangi Pride Centre will be closed for the next 2 weeks for us to
settle down in our new home.

We will re-open on the 19th of April 2008.

Please watch this space for more info about future activities in our
new home.

with thanks,

Charm, Nam Khim and Eileena.

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 will be closed on Saturday, 9 February 2008

Dear all

Please take note that Pelangi Pride Centre will be closed on Saturday, 9 February 2008 because of Chinese New Year Holidays.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our Chinese friends a Happy Lunar New Year!

Take care
The Pelangi Pride Centre Team

ST: Stories of Young Asian Activists (Oct 10 )

Oct 10, 2007
STORIES OF YOUNG ASIAN ACTIVISTS

When 1+1 = 11

By Chua Mui Hoong

KV STANLY and ML Parashu were young rookie reporters in Mysore, India, when they met a prostitute who changed their lives. They were in a park for a photo shoot, for a story on the harsh life of the city's horse-cart workers. A lady standing under a tree derided them. 'You're wasting one day's earning by taking this picture,' she told the cart workers.

'These reporters put you in the newspaper so they get a byline. Tomorrow, they will move on to another story and you will still be struggling here.'

She challenged the reporters: 'Why don't you write my story?'

Disturbed by the encounter, they looked for her the next day to hear her story.

She took them to her 'home' - a strip of pavement where her son sat studying.

Mr Stanly wrinkles his nose as he tells me: 'She had been sold to a brothel by her husband. After a few years, the brothel also threw her out. She's stinky and drunk. Her clients are the lower class and poor labourers. All she wanted was to make sure her son has a decent life.'

For Mr Stanly and his friend Mr Parashu, that was a defining moment. They pooled funds to take the woman and her son off the streets into a spartan home.

Her next challenge for them: 'You are helping me but I am an old lady. What about all the other young girls in the brothels?'

Their consciences pricked, the two young men started Odanadi Seva Samsthe, a group that helps rescue girls from prostitution. They went on to build a shelter to house, school and train these women.

'I also trained in therapy, so I could do psychotherapy for the women and help them recover,' Mr Stanly told me over lunch.

He was one of 200 young leaders attending the Asia 21 Young Leaders' Summit held in Singapore over the weekend.

I asked if he ever got into trouble with criminal gangs that run the brothels and he nodded matter-of-factly. 'It's a fact of life. I've been hospitalised several times.'

Today, Odanadi, which means soulmate in the Kannada language, has rescued more than 400 girls from prostitution. It organises an advocacy group for prostitutes and has helped rehabilitate hundreds of women into mainstream jobs. A few were married in well-publicised
ceremonies, helping to remove the stigma against girls forced into prostitution.

The organisation received a special award last Saturday from the New York-based Asia Society, which organised the summit.

As I spent the next two days among the participants, I would learn that stories like Mr Stanly's are common among this unusual lot of people, activists who did not stand by in the face of injustice, but rolled up their sleeves to change their respective corners of the world.

Mr Ravi Krishna, a lawyer trained in Pennsylvania, America, had a comfortable state counsel job in India. He often accompanied his frail mother to hospital and grew incensed at the way patients were dying en route to hospitals because there was no proper ambulance service.

He got together with friends to set up an ambulance service.

Called 1298 - Dial for Ambulance, the service uses technology to overcome the challenges of navigating the back lanes of Mumbai.

GPS (Global Positioning System) and RTS (Realtime Tracking System) track the location of 24 vehicles every moment of the day and night. Mr Krishna wants to use Google Earth maps to help in navigation - with ambulances sending back pictures of uncharted back lanes to widen
Google Earth's future coverage.

To do so requires each ambulance to be fitted with a laptop computer. Problem: Traditional laptops which are fan-ventilated and run on hard discs are vulnerable to damage in Mumbai's treacherously bumpy, dusty environment.

Solution: Mr Krishna is talking with Taiwan company Via to use its fanless computers that do not run on hard discs.

As Mr Krishna told his story over dinner, Mr Faiysal AliKhan peppered him with questions.

Turns out Mr AliKhan, a logistics professional by day, runs a foundation devoted to rural development in Pakistan. 'We have the same problem about having no ambulance service and we're thinking of setting one up,' he said.

After dinner, the two caught up with each other and promised to get in touch. Despite the periodic tension between the two countries, development work knows no boundaries when activists like these are bound by a common zeal to improve the lives of those around them.

Many of those at the forum had incredible stories to tell - of how they moved beyond self, work and family to do something for others.

There was Filipino military commander Dennis Eclarin, who decided to build lives. He started a microfinance foundation to reach the highland and most remote parts of the Philippines.

Then there was Mr Mitchell Pham, who fled Vietnam in a rickety boat when he was 13, with 65 others or so. The boat ran out of food, then water and fuel.

A cruise liner passed them by - with clueless tourists waving and taking pictures of the refugees in their dire straits. The next ship was an oil tanker, whose captain rescued the refugees.

'That was my leadership moment,' said Mr Pham. 'I learnt that even if you are in business, carrying on with your life, you can choose to ignore others' call or you can choose to make a difference and help. The cruise captain chose one, the oil tanker captain chose another.'

Mr Pham stayed at an Indonesian refugee camp for 1 1/2 years before settling in New Zealand, where he now runs an IT company and is active in business and community organisations, having chosen not to ignore others' problems.

Closer to home, there was Ms Eileena Lee, who started an online support group nine years ago for gay and lesbian people in Singapore. She now runs Pelangi Pride Centre, a resource centre on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues.

'I never saw myself as a leader. But I suffered in my own journey when I came out as a lesbian woman, and if I can do something to help others on that journey, I felt I had to.'

As a panellist at a discussion put it, it is about starting small, and making one plus one equal not two, but 11.

Listening to stories of these activists' 'leadership moments', learning what spurred them to act, I was humbled into silence.

I am a columnist but for once I have no point of view to offer, nothing but these stories from those who make a difference.

muihoong@sph. com.sg

Merrill Lynch was the lead sponsor of the Asia 21 Young Leaders' Summit. Singapore Press Holdings was a media sponsor.

Copyright (c) 2007 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

Women who Love Women: Conversations in Singapore (5th Screening)

If you missed the last few screenings of the latest (made in singapore) lesbian documentary. Pelangi Pride Centre will be holding another screening on 8 Sept (Sat) at 4.30pm.

Visit womenwholovewomensingapore.blogspot.com for more information and to RSVP.

3rd Screening of WOMEN who LOVE WOMEN: Conversations in Singapore

3rd Screening of WOMEN who LOVE WOMEN: Conversations in Singapore
Running Time: 65 minutes

"It is better to be hated for what one is,than to be loved for what one isn't"- Andre Gide, Writer

The screening of WOMEN who LOVE WOMEN ON Saturday, 21 July, 4.30 pm is full.

Come and join us for the third screening of the documentary at Pelangi Pride Centre on the same day at 7.30 pm.

One of the few documentaries ever made about lesbians in Singapore, this documentary, filmed in 2006 uses interview footage with three Singaporean lesbians-Amanda Lee, Sabrina Renee Chong and Gea Swee Jean, to get a rare glimpse into lesbian lives in Singapore. Intimate and often candid, these lesbians share about their lives and loves and their views on topics such as coming out and relationships. Sometimes heartbreaking, and often times, funny, the documentary captures the lives of lesbians who have chosen to live authentically and is a testament to the courage, tenacity and experiences of lesbians living in Singapore.

There will be a Question & Answer session with the interviewees and filmmaker, May Ling following the screening.

Details at a Glance
Event: Premiere of WOMEN who LOVE WOMEN: Conversations in Singapore
Date: Saturday, 21 July 2007 (210707)
Time: 7.30 - 9.30 pm
Venue: Pelangi Pride Centre
Bianco, 21 Tanjong Pagar Road, #04-01
Cost: FREE-OF-CHARGE

Please take note that this is a private event by registration only.Please RSVP with your name(s) to [ngiamsulin at yahoo dot com]by 18 July to ensure a seat.

14 July 2007 @ Pelangi Pride Centre - A gay perspective on being Christian

Isn't being gay and Christian incompatible?
Why are Christians so hung up about homosexuality?
What are the Church teachings on being gay?
What are the central church teachings?
Is it possible to be gay and Christian at the same time?
Why am I gay?
Seeing our sexuality as a gift, not a curse.

We have heard the many Christian perspectives on being gay, now it's time to hear a gay perspective on being Christian.

Come join Miak & Jamie at Pelangi Pride Centre -whether you are gay or straight, Christian or
non-Christian - for a honest sharing from a few gay Christians.

Date - 14th July 2007
Time - 4pm
Venue - Pelangi Pride Centre @ Bianco
Cost per person: $6 (cost of 2 soft drinks and finger food)

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

How to get to Pelangi Pride Centre @ Bianco - 21 Tanjong Pagar Road #04-01.
Map -
http://www.pelangipridecentre.org/contact/contact.htm

2nd Screening of WOMEN who LOVE WOMEN (21 July 2007)

WOMEN who LOVE WOMEN:
Conversations in Singapore
Running Time: 65 minutes

"It is better to be hated for what one is, than to be loved for what one isn't"
- Andre Gide, Writer

The premiere of WOMEN who LOVE WOMEN ON 7 July has reached maximum capacity. Come and join us for the second screening of the documentary at Pelangi Pride Centre on Saturday, 21 July 2007 (210707)

One of the few documentaries ever made about lesbiansin Singapore, this documentary, filmed in 2006 usesinterview footage with three Singaporean lesbians-Amanda Lee, Sabrina Renee Chong and Gea Swee Jean, toget a rare glimpse into lesbian lives in Singapore.

Intimate and often candid, these lesbians share abouttheir lives and loves and their views on topics suchas coming out and relationships. Sometimes heartbreaking, and often times, funny, the documentary captures the lives of lesbians who have chosen to live authentically and is a testament to the courage,tenacity and experiences of lesbians living in Singapore.

There will be a Question & Answer session with the interviewees and filmmaker, May Ling following the screening.

Details at a Glance
Event: 2nd Screening of WOMEN who LOVE WOMEN: Conversationsin Singapore
Date: Saturday, 21 July 2007 (210707)
Time: 4.30 - 6.30 pm
Venue: Pelangi Pride Centre Bianco, 21 Tanjong Pagar Road, #04-01
Cost: FREE-OF-CHARGE

Please take note that this is a private event byregistration only. Please RSVP with your name(s) to ngiamsulin@yahoo. comby 18 July to ensure a seat.

You're Invited to the Premiere of Singapore's Newest Lesbian Documentary

WOMEN who LOVE WOMEN: Conversations in Singapore
Running Time: 65 minutes

"It is better to be hated for what one is,
than to be loved for what one isn't"
- Andre Gide, Writer

You’re invited! Come and join us for the premiere of WOMEN who LOVE WOMEN: Conversations in Singapore at Pelangi Pride Centre on Saturday, 7 July 2007 (070707)

One of the few documentaries ever made about lesbians in Singapore, this documentary, filmed in 2006 uses interview footage with three Singaporean lesbians – Amanda Lee, Sabrina Renee Chong and Gea Swee Jean, to get a rare glimpse into lesbian lives in Singapore.

Intimate and often candid, these lesbians share about their lives and loves and their views on topics such as coming out and relationships. Sometimes heartbreaking, and often times, funny, the documentary captures the lives of lesbians who have chosen to live authentically and is a testament to the courage, tenacity and experiences of lesbians living in Singapore.

There will be a Question & Answer session with the interviewees and filmmaker, May Ling following the screening.

Details at a Glance
Event: Premiere of WOMEN who LOVE WOMEN: Conversations in Singapore
Date: Saturday, 7 July 2007 (070707)
Time: 4.30 - 6.30 pm
Venue: Pelangi Pride Centre
Bianco, 21 Tanjong Pagar Road, #04-01
Cost: FREE-OF-CHARGE

Please take note that this is a private event by registration only.

Please RSVP with your name(s) to ngiamsulin@yahoo. com by 5 July to ensure a seat.

PPC Event: "Love, Sex and Happiness -- A Buddhist Perspective" (30 June 2007)

"Love, Sex and Happiness -- A Buddhist Perspective"

What has love got to do with sex?
What does sex have to do with happiness?
Can we be sexually active and yet have a fulfilling spiritual life?
Is gay sex a "sexual misconduct"?

Come join us at Pelangi Pride Center with Angie Monksfield for a sessionon "Love, Sex and Happiness".Angie will share with us her perspectives on sex and relationships, andin particular what her views are on Buddhist attitudes towards same-sexrelationships.

About the speaker:
Ms Angie Monksfield is the President of Buddhist Fellowship. She was afounder member of this organisation when it was established in 1988 andhas been instrumental in modernising and transforming the image of Buddhism in Singapore.

She also founded the non-profit Brahm Education Centre, Tai Pei Buddhist Counseling Centre and the Soracco Music andPerforming Arts group.

She is a Counselor Trainer and teaches a variety of courses. She is also a Vice President of the Singapore Computer Society, a member of MDA Arts Consultative Panel and a Marriage Solemniser. She is a provocative and inspiring speaker.

Date - 30th June 2007
Time - 4pm
Venue - Pelangi Pride Centre @ Bianco
Cost per person: $6 (cost of 2 soft drinks and finger food)

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

How to get to Pelangi Pride Centre @ Bianco -21 Tanjong Pagar Road #04-01.
Map -http://www.pelangipridecentre.org/contact/contact.htm

SAFE presents "A Community Affair" (Sat 9 June 2007, 4-6pm, Pelangi Pride Centre)

S A F E
supporting, affriming & empowering
our lgbtQ friends and family

presents

"a community affair"

saturday 9 June 2007
4 - 6 pm
pelangi pride center @ bianco


Do you want to know more about homosexuality?
Do you have a gay or lesbian child/family member and want to find out more information but don't know where to find it or how?
What is this "gay lifestyle" that people tell you about?

Come to "a community affair" organized by SAFE and Pelangi Pride Centre, to
find out all the information you need!

Pelangi Pride Centre will give a short session on Homosexuality - Facts &
Myths.

Other LGBTQ community groups that reach out to the lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgendered communities in Singapore, will be there to tell
you about the activities they offer to the community and also how they play
an important role in the support and self-development of our gay family
members and friends.

Following the presentation, you will get the chance to mingle and chat with
supportive parents and affirming counselors. There is also an extensive
library of gay-related non-fiction/ fiction books and resources for browsing
and borrowing.

This event is organised for those new to the LGBTQ community, especially
straight family and friends who want to find our more about this community
in Singapore. They will be given priority to this event.

We look forward to welcoming you at "a community affair" on Saturday, 9 June 2007 from 4-6pm at Bianco, above Mox Bar & Café at 21 Tanjong Pagar Road #04-01. Sign up today by sending your RSVP to safesingapore [at]gmail.com. If you have further questions, please call Susan at 9624-7192.

Pelangi Pride Centre listed in TimeOut

Pelangi Pride Centre took a brave step and got itself listed in TimeOut (June 2007 issue). It's our first ever print publicity in a mainstream magazine.