Today Weekend: Malaysian clerics issue edict to ban tomboys (Oct 25)

M'sian clerics issue edict to ban tomboys

Weekend • October 25, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia's main body of Islamic clerics has issued an
edict banning tomboys in the Muslim-majority country, ruling that
girls who act like boys violate the tenets of Islam, an official said
on Friday.

The National Fatwa Council forbade the practice of girls behaving or
dressing like boys during a meeting on Thursday in northern Malaysia,
said Mr Harussani Idris Zakaria, the mufti of northern Perak state,
who attended the gathering.

He said an increasing number of Malaysian girls behave like tomboys
and that some of them engage in homosexuality. Homosexuality is not
explicitly banned in Malaysia, but it is effectively illegal under a
law that prohibits sex acts "against the order of nature".

Mr Harussani said the council's ruling was not legally binding because
it has not been passed into law, but that tomboys should be banned
because their actions are immoral.

"It doesn't matter if it's a law or not. When it's wrong, it's wrong.
It is a sin,"Mr Harussani told AP. "Tomboy (behaviour) is forbidden in
Islam."

Under the edict, or "fatwa", girls are forbidden to sport short hair
and dress, walk and act like boys, Mr Harussani said.

Boys should also not act like girls, he said. "They must respect God.
God created them as boys, they must behave like boys," he said.

Council chairman Abdul Shukor Husin said the ruling was prompted by
recent cases of young women behaving like men and indulging in
homosexuality, according to the Bernama news agency. AP

Today: Murder charge reduced against those in Orchard Towers brawl (Oct 7)

Murder charge reduced against those in Orchard Towers brawl
07 October 2008 2324 hrs (SST)
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/381036/1/.html


SINGAPORE: It was a night of revelry, as six friends – all gang
members aged from 17 to 28 – gathered at a pub in Orchard Towers on
November 23, 2007 to celebrate a birthday.

But the gathering ended in tragedy when a brawl broke out, and by 6am,
a 37-year-old stranger was pronounced dead after being kicked and
punched by the six friends.

The sextet – namely Ahmad Nur Helmy, Muhammed Ridhwan Mohammed Roslan,
Helmi Abdul Rahim, Ho Ching Boon, Lai Chee Kuen and Muhammed Suffian
Zainal – were collared in a matter of days after the incident, and
charged with the murder of Mr Suhaimi Sulong.

On Tuesday, they appeared at the Subordinate Court and pleaded guilty,
but to a lesser charge – voluntarily causing grievous hurt.

The charges were probably downgraded because the attack was not
premeditated, explained one lawyer.

With friends and family crowding the packed courtroom, all six
remained emotionless even as Deputy Public-Prosecutor (DPP) Samuel
Chua unveiled the gruesome details of the attack on Mr Suhaimi.

The fight took place at around 5am near Brown Sugar, a pub on the
second floor. According to court documents, the fracas began when Ho,
18, and Lai, who at 17 was underaged, left the pub after they spotted
police officers performing checks.

While they were waiting outside the pub for their friends to turn up,
Mr Suhaimi approached the duo and began making lewd comments and
offering sexual services. The teenagers decided to ignore him and head
back to the club.

At about 4am, Mr Suhaimi approached Ahmad Nur Helmy – the birthday boy
– while he was in the toilet, exposing himself to the 20-year-old in
the process. Angered, Ahmad summoned his friends and they confronted
the victim.

Eyewitnesses said the group began chasing after Mr Suhaimi while
shouting "jangan lari", which meant "don't run" in Malay. They also
asked Mr Suhaimi if he was a homosexual.

But when he didn't answer and tried to flee, Ahmad grabbed the
victim's T-shirt and began kicking and punching him.

Although the rest initially tried to break up the fight, they
eventually joined the fray and began throwing a volley of kicks on Mr
Suhaimi.

They then dragged Mr Suhaimi down to the first-floor entrance and
threw him into a taxi, court documents said.

By then, the victim was motionless and bloodied from the attack. He
had also sustained head injuries and was taken unconscious to the
Singapore General Hospital by ambulance.

The victim was pronounced dead at 6.02am and an autopsy later revealed
that he had died from blunt force injuries to his head and neck.

Over the next few days, police arrested his attackers. On November 27,
Helmi Abdul Rahim, 28, surrendered himself to the authorities.

The six men, all out on bail, are due to appear in court on October 28
for sentencing. All six face imprisonment for a term which may extend
to 10 years, and they may also be fined or caned.


- TODAY/so

Today: 'V' for Victory (Oct 5)

`V' for victory
A lively, comedic takeon a quiet classic:
Mayo Martin
mayo@mediacorp.com.sg


YOU'VE seen one, you've seen them all, the saying goes. Not so with
this version ofThe Vagina Monologues (TVM).

Despite this reviewer's initial doubts on the wisdom of choosing an
arguably over-exposed piece as an inaugural production for new
theatre company Zebra Crossing, director Loretta Chen has admirably
eschewed conventions for a unique take on TVM (which is not an easy
thing considering how notoriously hands-on the playwright Eve Ensler
is).

Instead of three performers, there are nine. Sombre and minimalist?
No, thank you, we're having fun.

Hence, monologues are shuffled around, public service announcements
flashed onscreen along with video interviews of three prominent
theatre personalities on motherhood, a clinical "vagina workshop" is
re-imagined as an army bootcamp led by a hyperactive drill sergeant
with a French accent, shrill "schoolgirls" descend on the audience
waving their (unused) sanitary napkins, and, seemingly out of
nowhere, someone actually does a sexy pole dance. Naughty,
naughty ...

Barring uneven scene transitions, (opening night jitters, most
likely) TVM was without a doubt a lively theatrical ride. There was
a conscious effort to localise the experience, with phrases in
Tamil, Malay and Chinese dialects thrown around.

That said, the flashy approach tends to occasionally distract,
diffusing some of the more intimate, disturbing moments of what is
by nature a confessional piece of text.

Despite a few over-the-top moments, new talent Eleine Ng showed a
flair for the comedic with her scene depicting the various ways of
moaning.

Soul singer Asha Edmund's own spiels on, er, hair "down there" and
how to pronounced "c**t" were tight and snappy. Transsexual Elnina
recounting a transformative experience was a bit too dramatic but
intense, nevertheless.

My favourite was veteran actress Loke Loo Pin deadpanning her way
through a monologue as a dignified old lady recounting her first
sexual awakening. Too shy to even say the word "vagina", she flashes
a "V" sign instead — which could very well stand for the
word "victory", too.

While Chen's approach was a little too much for a play whose power
lies in the intimacy that monologues offer, we're inclined to give
it a "V" sign for being fun and, more important, fresh.

The Vagina Monologues runs until Oct 12,8pm, at Drama Centre
Theatre,National Library. With 3pm matinees.Tickets from $17 to $57
at Sistic. Rating: R18.

Today: Keep our doors open to ideas (June 6)

Keep our door open to ideas

Dismissal of sincere views not helpful to engagement between a govt
and citizens

Friday • June 6, 2008

Letter from Siew Kum Hong

Member, Pro-Tem Committee

Maruah Singapore

I REFER to the report, "Politics, law and human rights `fanatics': AG
Walter Woon" (May 30).

The Attorney-General, Professor Walter Woon, reportedly said that
human rights has become a "religion among some people" for whom "it's
all hypocrisy and fanaticism", that we should not confuse public
law with politics, and that some people assume that their definition of
human rights is the decision of the rest of humanity.

As a group that seeks to work on issues related to the establishment
of the Association of South-east Nations (Asean) human rights body
from a Singapore perspective, Maruah finds the AG's reported
statements regrettable. Such a dismissal of sincerely-held views, even
those expressed immoderately, is not helpful to engagement between a
government and its citizens.

History tells us that ardent campaigners who were highly controversial
in their day must be thanked for much of today's social progress.

While controversial causes are not necessarily right, our progress as
a society depends on us keeping the door open to ideas, and not
peremptorily dismissing ideas and their proponents with pejorative
language.

Maruah also believes that no single group of persons — including
officials — has the right to conclusively define human rights for the
rest of society.

The definition of human rights evolves as society changes. This
evolution is stunted if dissentients are cast as troublemakers
pursuing their own causes under the guise of human rights.

Rather than criticising dissentients, we should see them as making a
positive contribution to our understanding and conceptualisation of
what human rights means to Singaporeans.

Finally, it is not helpful to view public law in complete isolation
from politics.

After all, politics must be conducted within the framework of the law,
and political decisions must be lawful.

Similarly, the law does not exist in a vacuum divorced from the
politics of the day.

Today: Barred last year, back this year (May 29)

Barred last year, back this year

Barely a stir last Friday as Canadian don presented paper on Section
377 at annual legal conference:

Thursday • May 29, 2008

Loh Chee Kong

cheekong@mediacorp.com.sg

TEN months ago, at the height of the polarising debate on whether
homosexual acts should be decriminalised, controversy broke when
Canadian academic Douglas Sanders was barred from giving a public talk
on the topic here — four days before he was due to speak.

Last Friday, Professor Sanders came and went, barely creating a ripple
as he delivered a lecture at the Asian Law Institute's (ASLI) 5th
Annual Conference organised by the National University of Singapore
law faculty. And it was on the very paper that he was scheduled to
present last year.

The ASLI conference, which was held at NUS' Bukit Timah campus,
attracted more than 200 law experts and academics from 14 countries.

Responding to Today's queries, a Ministry of Home Affairs spokesman
explained that NUS, along with the other two public-funded
universities, are exempt from the Public Entertainment and Meetings
Act (Pema).

Said the spokesman: "The Pema licence for the earlier planned public
lecture by Prof Sanders was cancelled because it was clear that the
event was part of the efforts of gay activists to involve a foreigner
in promoting their political agenda in the context of the Penal Code
Review."

In contrast, the ASLI Conference is "a bona fide academic event with
many scholars and speakers ... addressing issues of legal
scholarship", the spokesman added.

:Prof Sanders had last year been also scheduled to take part in a
forum at the Institute of South-east Asian Studies. But the institute
had cancelled it after the police withdrew the licence for his talk at
IndigNation, an annual series of events organised by local gay groups.

Today understands that Prof Sanders' lecture last week on his paper,
"377 and the unnatural afterlife of British colonialism in Asia", drew
about 50 participants. It ran concurrently with other parallel sessions.

According to Prof Tan Cheng Han, the dean of the NUS law school and a
member of ASLI's Board of Governors, the institute "was aware that
Prof Sanders would be presenting a similar paper to the one that he
had wanted to present last year" at both events.

Noting that homosexuality — and Section 377A in particular — was a
topic discussed at more than one session at last year's ASLI
conference in Jakarta, NUS' Prof Tan said the law institute "generally
has an open policy towards academics who wish to present papers at its
annual conference".

Prof Sanders' 39-page paper, which is available online, described
Singapore as "the best example of a jurisdiction with the odd trinity
of criminal prohibition, social disapproval but little actual police
enforcement of the law".

It also asserts that by retaining Section 377A, Singapore politicians
"want to avoid controversial subjects" including adoption, social
recognition and support for homosexuals.

When addressing Parliament last year on why Prof Sander's talk at
IndigNation had been banned, :Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee — the
Senior Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs — had described Prof
Sanders as "an advocate for decriminalising homosexuality".

Assoc Prof Ho had also said the lecture was "contrary to public
interest", and reiterated that foreigners "will not be allowed to
interfere in our domestic political scene, whether in support of the
gay cause or against it".

Yesterday, however, the ministry spokesman said there was "no
objection to Prof Sanders the person or his right to express his views
whether on gay issues or other matters".

Today was unable to reach Prof Sanders for comments. The
:Chulalongkorn University emeritus professor is understood to be in
Russia.

Gay rights activist Alex Au, who met Prof Sanders when he was in town
from last Wednesday to Saturday, felt that the Government "overreacted
last year".

"It's in the nature of academic talks on minority interest issues,
that they do not create any risk to public order," said Mr Au.

While noting the "material difference" between a public lecture and an
academic conference, Tanjong Pagar MP Baey Yam Keng felt it was "just
coincidental" that the timing of Prof Sanders' scheduled talk last
year was "very close to the debate (on the Penal Code amendments) in
Parliament".

Still, Mr Baey added: "No one can be sure what would have been the
public reaction if it had gone ahead. But I thought it could have
actually added to the discussion last year."

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.

Today: NMP Thio gets threatening note (Nov 7)

She gets physical threat, makes second police report in 3 months

It looked innocuous enough: A brown envelope with a single, printed A4 sheet inside.

But the contents of this letter were hateful enough — indeed, the words "hate", hatred" and "hurt" were repeated no less than 10 times — that its recipient made a police report on Monday night. It is the second police report Nominated Member of Parliament Thio Li-ann has made in three months.

But while she has said she will not sue her first antagonist, poet Alfian Sa'at, who sent her a four-sentence insulting email, the situation is different now.

"This is a physical threat, different from the usual insults," said Professor Thio. The threats are ugly and worded unambiguously, and Today, which has a copy of the page-long letter, chose not to reproduce its content.

But, if carried out, the threats are serious enough to be treated as offences causing grievous hurt. And the anonymous letter writer even threatened her family.

"Singaporeans need to know the tactics that have been employed and what I really want to see is free and open debate without intimidation," said Prof Thio, who disclosed last month the first email incident, after she gave a strongly-worded speech on keeping Section 377A, the law on homosexual sex.

While she declined to say if she would take precautions, Prof Thio said making a police report was the "responsible thing to do". Police spokesman Stanley Norbert confirmed her police report. A probe is ongoing, while the email incident is under investigation.

Criminal lawyer Anand Nalachandran, a partner at Harry Elias Partnership, said the letter was "malicious", and that anonymous threats to cause hurt or death would attract stiffer punishments because of the "ominous" factor of not knowing the threat's origin.

The punishment for criminal intimidation to cause hurt or death is a maximum seven-year jail term or a fine, or both. If the threat is anonymous, an additional jail term of up to two years could be imposed.

NMP Siew Kum Hong, who had differed with Prof Thio in Parliament, was outraged by the threat, saying: "There is no place for such things in our society. Whoever sent that letter crossed the line. The police should look into it."

Mr Siew, who has received his share of abuse for asking for Section 377A to be repealed, said he has not received threats of "this extent". "This is outrageous … I unequivocally condemn this ... Nothing anyone says could possibly justify such a despicable act."

Today: Will NMP sue poet for defamation? (Oct 31)

Will NMP sue poet for defamation?

LEONG WEE KEAT
weekeat@mediacorp.com.sg

HE THOUGHT she had made the police report which led to the cancellation of the “Pink Picnic”, a public event that had been planned by gay activists.

In his “flash of anger”, poet and playwright Alfian Sa’at shot off an angry email to Nominated Member of Parliament Professor Thio Li-ann early one morning in August.

Yesterday, Professor Thio denied that she was the person behind the August police report. In an email to the media, she said: “I have only made one police report in my lifetime and that was in relation to the hate email I received … This fact can be verified by the relevant authorities.”

Mr Alfian told TODAY that he “had heard and saw on a few blogs” alleging that it was Prof Thio who had called the police. He “shot off” the email after returning home from a night of clubbing. “If it was not her,
I had done her great wrong and I offer my public apology,” he said.

Prof Thio said: “Perhaps Mr Sa’at was over-zealous in relying on a misleading and unreliable information source, but he remains responsible for the abusive manner of his communication. However, as he has publicly apologised, I think we can all move ahead by learning to argue on substantive public issues in a civil fashion.”

The email was cited by Prof Thio in her speech in Parliament last week against the repealing of Section 377A of the Penal Code. She had described the email as being “full of vile and obscene invective”.

The 63-word email started off stating, “this is a personal note to you”. It then contained one four-letter word, accusations of “hate-mongering”, vows to urinate “on her grave” and was signed off “With love, Alfian”.

The email has since been removed from Mr Alfian’s personal blog but has resurfaced on at least two other websites.

Mr Alfian, 29, said he removed the email last week “on the advice from friends”.

Yesterday, Prof Thio raised “the issue of possible defamation” in her letter to the media. The National University of Singapore law professor said: “As his first email to me was prefaced, ‘This is a personal note to you’, no issue of libel arose then. However, as he has reproduced his email of Aug 12, 2007, addressed to me in the public forum of his blog, the issue of possible defamation now arises.”

Lawyers told TODAY that they have seen an increasing number of cases involving defamatory statements made in blogs. In this case, Harry Elias Partnership consultant Doris Chia said the email could lower Prof Thio’s reputation. Ms Chia noted, however, that the words were “phrased like an angry tirade. The question
is whether how many people will take his sayings seriously”.

Then, there is also the defence of fair comment.

Mr Adrian Tan, a partner at Drew and Napier, said: “The law allows everyone to express their views on public matters, even if those views involve strong language. All honestly-held views are protected, even views
which the general public might find offensive.” Defamation could also be considered a criminal matter under the Penal Code, where anyone guilty of criminal defamation may be jailed for two years, or with fine, or with both.
Yesterday, Prof Thio said she noted Mr Alfian’s public apology and how he had urged others not to follow his “reckless example”. “His current rejection of using hatemail tactics containing four-letter words and abusive language to intimidate people is to be welcomed,” she said.

Mr Alfian told TODAY: “For me, this matter is closed. I have taken down the post, apologised and it would not be productive to take this any further.”

Today: Gay Debate Crying out for the Majority Voice (Oct 30)

GAY DEBATE CRYING OUT FOR THE MAJORITY VOICE
Moderate views of most S’poreans needed to temper the vocal minority

DERRICK A PAULO
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
derrick@mediacorp.com.sg

NOW the Penal Code has been updated — with Section 377A left untouched — where does Singapore go from here on this issue of the law on sex between gay men? Certainly, it will remain an issue for years to come, and the situation here will evolve, if not in tandem with the rest of the world, then one step behind the frontline of change, as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said last week in Parliament.

But how to evolve when two sides hold intractable positions? Those who have supported or opposed Section 377A have done so with great zeal and belief, which is unlikely to dim over time. Here is where and why this issue should not be debated, dominated and decided solely by a vocal minority on either side.

As Mr Lee pointed out, for the majority of Singaporeans, the issue is not at the top of their consciousness. For them, the attitude is live and let live. When the time comes for another opportunity to relook Section 377A, chances are this moderate attitude of the majority, as majority attitudes tend to be, will remain the prevalent view.

So, why not take ownership of an issue so that the debate and any decision better reflects the kind of society we are or want to be?

Of course, society will not be defined by one single issue, although that is precisely the scenario that lobby groups in the United States try to paint, as pointed out last week by Senior Minister of State Dr Balaji Sadasivan.

In Singapore, whether society disintegrates because of the change in a single law or whether a wave of all things immoral becomes an inexorable tide is surely in the hands of the majority. Likewise, whether Singapore is seen as an unjust place will be determined by the entire spectrum of laws and not by one law, as well as how those laws are enforced.

For the gay community, naturally, Section 377A is the law that probably counts more than others, even though the Government has said it will not proactively enforce this law.

The reason is simple enough, and it has to do with the politics of identity.

Gays may not be considered a minority by the State in the way non-Chinese ethnic groups are considered minorities in Singapore but gays are equally citizens, and as Mr Lee said, they are kith and kin. But gays feel they are citizens who are, by definition, immediate criminals. It is true the law does not criminalise gays, but gay sex. However, if we accept that it is only human to seek a loving relationship, which includes intimacy and sex, then clearly Section 377A impacts the identity of a gay person as a Singapore citizen.

But while this is the reality of Section 377A, the reality is also that abolishing it is not enough for the gays. Identity also comes with full acceptance by other Singaporeans, which is what the gay community wants. On the other side of the fence, those who fervently support Section 377A, most of whom are from religious groups, are also looking for affirmation. Through public policy, they are looking for affirmation of their views, which by extension would be an affirmation of the relevance of their respective religions in the direction the country takes. To them, keeping or abolishing Section 377A would reflect this relevance.

These issues are at the crux of the debate, but have been given short shrift so far. The majority has to decide what sort of affirmation gays ought to get as Singapore citizens and what weight religion should have in Singapore’s governance and the policies it should bear upon. Most importantly, the majority should decide the tenor of the debate on Section 377A. Whether the majority agrees or disagrees on the repealing of the law, as the debate continues, the majority should take ownership of how it is conducted and, at the very least, take a stand against remarks deriding groups on either side.

Singapore has prided itself on its social harmony and the cohesion it has built. Heated though this issue has been, it has not descended to the level seen in the US, where lives have been ruined and lost because of differences on this issue.

However, we are beginning to see in Singapore instances of parties from both sides having their employment questioned, as TODAY reported last week. This ought to be nipped in the bud. When inflammatory remarks creep into the debate, whether in the highest platform such as Parliament or the coffeeshop, the majority must begin to drown them out. This should be how Singapore differentiates itself from the rest of the world, even if we remain one step behind the frontline of change.

TODAY: Gay debate takes ugly turn (Oct 25)

Gay debate takes ugly turn

But a few black sheep in cyberspace do not mean S'poreans can't hold a mature dialogue: Analysts

Thursday • October 25, 2007

Ansley Ng
ansley@mediacorp.com.sg

THE Parliamentary debate on the law against gay sex will be remembered for its fiery, heart-felt spirit. But outside the House, passions — among both supporters and opponents of Section 377A — have, at times, degenerated into spite.

There were threatening, expletive-laced emails. One parliamentarian had his sexuality questioned. Another academic was flamed in blogs and had her phone number circulated.

And the employer of one gay professional was questioned about their hiring him.

The ugly turn of events, some may say, is only to be expected given the emotional nature of the subject matter — one that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had warned on Tuesday could polarise society.

But a bigger question being asked is: What do such instances say of Singaporeans' ability to debate issues maturely, and without hostility?

In Parliament on Monday, Nominated MP Thio Li-ann recounted how a colleague received threatening emails following the publication of an article in The Straits Times in May, after reforms to the Penal Code were mooted.

Assistant Professor Yvonne Lee had commented that it was wrong to decriminalise homosexual acts. For a month after, people, including young lawyers and students, wrote to the dean criticising her.

Her photo was posted on blogs and her phone number circulated. She received emails — "80 per cent of them abusive" — asking if she was a "fundamentalist" who would discriminate against homosexual students.

"It was a professional attack, intimidation and harassment," Asst Prof Lee told Today.

Professor Thio herself was "shell-shocked" and made a police report after receiving an abusive email in August from an unnamed stranger who threatened to defile her grave on the day Section 377A was repealed.

"If it was just a rude letter, I'd let it slip. But this really overstepped things," the law lecturer told Today.

In the opposing camp, fellow NMP Siew Kum Hong, who presented a public petition to scrap the law against gay sex, had his sexuality questioned.

"When you are a public figure taking a position on a public issue, you have to accept that some people will not be mature enough to refrain from such things," said Mr Siew, a lawyer.

"It bothers me but I just got past it and carried on. I don't want to dignify their comments."

The organisers of the Repeal377A.com campaign — who, in a statement yesterday, said they were "deeply disappointed" by the decision to keep the law — told Today that hate messages were posted on their website. "That's what the gay community experiences as part of their lives — derogatory slurs," a spokesman said.

Indeed, one employee at a large government-linked company learnt, a few months ago, that an anonymous letter had been sent to senior management, asking why they employed a gay person.

"I was really shocked. I'm not a closet gay but I don't show off my sexuality at work. I'm there to work, not advocate gay rights; I'm a professional. Honestly, I felt very violated," he said.

To him, the incident suggests there is "a lot of fear" that legalising consensual gay sex would cause societal disintegration. "When there is fear, it can lead to viciousness."

MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC Baey Yam Keng, however, said that while some were not pleased at his speaking up for homosexuals, no one had been outright abusive so far.

One email sender vowed not to vote for him in the next election. Another asked if he was "naive or blind".

Said Mr Baey: "For these kind of emotional issues, there will be skewed positions taken. But it's healthy to have these two opposing views — albeit some being extreme about it — rather than not talk about the issue."

He feels such debates raise awareness among the uninformed, which feeds into an even more robust discussion.

But Prof Thio asked: "Can we promise ourselves that we will not resort to deception or shouting at each other, but focus on facts and issue? Even if we disagreed, can we disagree in a civil fashion?"

On Sunday, Dr Balaji Sadasivan, Senior Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Information, Communications and the Arts), had called for tolerance of differences on Section 377A. The challenge, he had warned, was in preventing diversity from descending into "divisive antagonism", as it has in the United States.

Such polarisation was unlikely to happen in Singapore, said Dr Terence Chong, a fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

Citizens by and large have shown that they are capable of civil and passionate debate – both in and outside of parliament – despite the actions of a few anonymous "black sheep" in cyberspace, he noted.

"The overall tone of the debate has been civil. It would be naïve for anyone to want passionate debate without any name-calling at all. And it would be very unfair to point to a small group of people who send hate mail and say we are not capable of a mature debate," said Dr Chong.

TODAY: Teach youth spirit of the law, not just its letter (Oct 17)

Teach youth spirit of the law, not just its letter

Wednesday • October 17, 2007

Letter from FELICIA TAN YING YI

I READ Mr Ron Chong Ker Chuen's letter, "Leave gay law unchanged"
(Oct 16), with much disappointment.

Though I understand the importance of parents teaching their
children to tell right from wrong, I feel that it is key to
emphasise why we label certain acts as morally wrong (for example,
they cause harm to others).

This is better than telling them not to do something just because
the law says so or to perpetuate a conservative view.

At the same time, it is worrying that Mr Chong and parents like him
fail to recognise the fact that by supporting Section 377A of the
Penal Code, under which it is a crime for men to have sex with other
men, he is inadvertently sending a message to his children that it
is all right to discriminate against minority groups and impose laws
regarding their private issues, which do not directly concern us or
cause harm to other parties.

It would be rather unfortunate should our younger generation be
brought up to support such prejudices and infringements on personal
liberty.

While parents and educators play vital roles in shaping the moral
compasses of our youth, it is ultimately more important — and
increasingly more relevant in our ever-changing society — to give
the youth the right tools and attitudes to make their own moral
judgments.

We would be doing the younger generation a disservice if we were to
simply impose our views and biases on them.

TODAY: Stars lend name to plea for change

TODAY, Oct 15, 2007

Online rap video seeks support for change of current gay laws

Local celebrities have rallied together in a rap video to garner support for petitions to urge the government to change its mind about the current gay laws.

The rap video — which runs for just under two minutes and which has a line up of well-known names, such as Pamela Oei, Selena Tan and Emma Yong of the Dim Sum Dollies — is in support of a public online campaign urging people to sign on two documents to amend Section 377A of the Penal Code.

The video begins with a rap, but ends with a plea by the named celebrities, urging the public to support the campaigns.

The two documents include an Open Letter to the Prime Minister and a formal petition to be submitted to Parliament on Oct 22 by Nominated Member of Parliament Siew Kum Hong — which will require actual signatures.

Last week, Mr Siew said the idea for the petition was suggested to him by its two lead signatories, lawyer George Hwang and Mr Stuart Koe, chief executive of gay media company Fridae.com. Mr Siew said he agreed to submit the petition as he believes Section 377A should be repealed.

On Oct 22, Parliament will hear the debate on a number of issues, including wide-ranging amendments to the Penal Code, which governs most criminal offences here.

The proposed changes do not include Section 377A, under which it is a crime for men to have sex with other men, whether in public or in private.

Following its latest review of the Penal Code, the Government said it had decided to maintain the status quo since Singapore is a generally conservative society. The authorities also said it will not actively prosecute people under Section 377A.

A survey by Today this year showed that people here are still conservative.

Asked if homosexuality should be made legal, 62.3 per cent of 300 respondents disagreed — 25.3 per cent strongly so.

Only 11.6 per cent thought it should be legalised while interestingly, 26 per cent had no views either way.

As of yesterday, the organisers of the two campaigns said they had collected 4, 618 signatures for its online campaign.

They could not provide figures for the parliamentary petition by press time.

The online campaign to gather signatures for the Open Letter closes on Friday, while yesterday was the last day for people to show their support for the parliamentary petition.

Other celebrities in the video include 881 star Yeo Yann Yann, actors Irene Ang, Tan Kheng Hua, Neo Swee Lin and Lim Kay Siu, 987FM programme director Mark Richmond, television host and stage actress Beatrice Chia, creative director Glen Goei and comedian Kumar.

TODAY: MM: No S'poreans want to ask a question? (Oct 5)

By Loh Chee Kong
TODAY, Oct 5, 2007

The issue of homosexuality cropped up again during a question-and-answer session with Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew at the Nanyang Technological University's Ministerial Forum last night.

An English language undergraduate asked Mr Lee this question: Whether there was a "mutual contradiction" between Singapore's censorship laws and artistic expression, specifically on homosexuality and politics.

Mr Lee replied: "I cannot answer you on that. I just find it unbelievable that your artistic expression, or the desire and impulse in you, is suppressed because of the censorship laws. It cannot be.

"We are in a stage of transition ... I see no profits in having gay parades. If you are born homosexual, so be it. But must you parade it, or go out of your way to antagonise, embarrass or defy the more conventional view?"

During the one-hour session, he addressed issues such as press freedom and censorship. But when the session came close to an end, Mr Lee was concerned that only two out of the nine questions were asked by Singaporeans. He said: "Are there no Singaporeans who want to ask a question?"

Two Singaporean undergraduates then stood up to ask whether he was concerned with the high turnover rate of the teaching profession and what Singapore can do in the fight against global warming.

Mr Lee replied that the teaching profession is "unglamorous" but the Government's efforts to attract talents has paid off. He also revealed that the Cabinet is studying a paper on climate change.

Substation event gets police nod after civil society groups excluded

Zul Othman
Wednesday • September 26, 2007

THE police have turned down a request by The Substation to organise an outdoor flea market that would have included booths run by 19 civil society groups.

The flea market was supposed to be part of a six-hour event, The Tunnel Party, last Saturday to mark the 17th anniversary of The Substation, Singapore's first independent, non-profit, multi-disciplinary arts centre founded by late theatre doyen Kuo Pao Kun.

It was to have been held next to the Fort Canning Tunnel and also feature music and arts shows.

A police spokesperson said: "In the Substation's initial application for the event, the police noted it would include outdoor booths for civil society groups to promote their cause."

The groups included the Vegetarian Society, the Cat Welfare Society and two gay support groups Pelangi Pride Centre and Women Who Love Women.

"(We) informed the organisers of our position of not allowing outdoor events assessed to be contrary to public interest," the police spokesperson added.

Rather than call off the show, the organisers decided to rebrand it as the SeptFest Gig and moved it to the pavement area behind the Singapore Management University (SMU) School of Law and School of Accountancy.

The change was met with approval by the authorities.

The organisers "have done away with the outdoor booths for civil society groups. As such, the police have approved the application for SeptFest", said the police spokesperson.

The SeptFest Gig had some 23 outdoor booths, ranging from flea markets vendors to stalls peddling homemade jewellery. It attracted some 700 visitors.

The Substation's artistic co-director Lee Weng Choy told Today "it was important for us to continue with the event … because we see it as part of a large process".

The group deems such events as important because if these gatherings are successful, it said, it sets a positive precedent for engagement between the arts, civil society and the authorities.

Mr Lee said: "Some of our stakeholders, such as the bands, the commercial flea market groups and the public, might lose faith in The Substation if we cancelled an event again."

Last year, the police turned down its application to close down Armenian Street for a street party, also a collaboration with artists, arts groups and civil society groups.

Today: Minister Reticent on Alfian Case

This sounds a whole lot like when I was (nearly) hired to take on a teaching/facilitation position at a Polytechnic last year.

I was even invited to sit in on a class and introduced as the next teacher faciilitator to take over. The Poly's HR even issued a letter to the temp agency to let them know that I would come onboard full-time.

Then the Poly does an about-turn and insists I was never hired in the first place. Although I have documents from them that prove otherwise. Their statement about this? I shouldn't have been privvy to those documents even though it was from them and was emailed to me.

I am sure that the reason why I wasn't hired is because they ran background checks and it came up that I am gay and that I was one of the people whose names are listed to attempt to register People Like Us (PLU) as a society.

What is of course most laughable about the situtation is that the particular department is filled with gay people, just not ones who have registered to make PLU a society. Oh well.


MINISTER RETICENT ON ALFIAN CASE
Each year, the Ministry of Education (MOE)receives about 3,000 first-time applications to become relief teachers. And about 100 are rejected for a “variety of reasons”, including “the values they hold and espouse”, said Minister of State for
Education Lui Tuck Yew in response to a question in Parliament yesterday. espite repeated attempts by Nominated MP Siew Kum Hong, Mr Lui would not be drawn into discussing playwright Alfian Sa’at’s recent failed application, adding that it was “not appropriate to discuss individual cases … in this House”. Mr Lui reiterated: “The most appropriate thing to do is for (Mr Alfian) to engage
MOE directly and we can deal with the case on an individual basis.” Nevertheless, Mr Alfian told TODAY he had not heard from MOE since May, when he wrote to the ministry asking for more specific reasons. Said Mr Alfian: “They had given me like their HR policies but I don’t see how I could have contravened any of those.”

TODAY Weekend: AIDS virus attacks brain on two fronts: study

AIDS virus attacks brain on two fronts: study

Weekend • August 18, 2007

The AIDS virus does not only destroy brain cells it also inhibits the body from making new ones, according to a new study published in the United States.

"It's a double hit to the brain," wrote researcher Marcus Kaul in the study into the causes of the condition known as HIV-associated dementia published in the August issue of the Cell Stem Cell.

A protein known as gp120 which is found on the surface of the HIV virus is responsible for the damage, the researchers from the Burnham Institute for Medical research and the University of California at San Diego found.

"The breakthrough here is that the AIDS virus prevents stem cells in the brain from dividing; it hangs them up," said Stuart Lipton. "It's the first time that the virus has ever been shown to affect stem cells."

"The HIV protein both causes brain injury and prevents its repair," added Kaul.

The study found that gp120 in mice slowed down the production of new neurons in the hippocampus, the region of the brain which is vital for learning and memory.

It has been long known that HIV infection could lead to acute dementia, but the numbers of cases are rising as HIV patients live longer thanks to drug therapies.

Current anti-viral drugs cannot however easily penetrate into the brain tissue, thus leaving behind a reservoir of the virus.

Scientists believe the team's research could help determine a new course of treatment for HIV dementia.

"This indicates we might eventually treat this form of dementia by either ramping up brain repair or protecting the brain mechanism," Kaul said. — AFP

TODAY: When both hands work together

When both hands work together ...

Monday • August 13, 2007

Tan Hui Leng
huileng@mediacorp.com.sg

IT IS winning the battle against HIV. The Australian state of New South Wales has seen the number of HIV cases reported each year generally dropping over the past decade. And now Singapore knows why, after its first study trip of this kind.

Close cooperation is needed between the Government and non-governmental organisations (NGO), Dr Balaji Sadasivan, Senior Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Information, Communications and the Arts), told Today after a trip to Sydney last month.

Easier said than done, though.

A tricky balance needs to be struck when reaching out to the group that is a particularly significant contributor to HIV statistics in developed countries such as Australia and Singapore: Men who have sex with men (MSMs).

Relating the "invaluable" lessons learnt in Sydney, Dr Balaji said: "The health authorities supported the NGOs in the community, and in return the NGOs were sensitive to the conservative majority.

"This cooperation between NGOs and the health authorities — reach out to the MSMs, but at the same time, don't upset the conservative majority — is the key to their success."

In Singapore, where the numbers are going up "relentlessly", 26 per cent of the record 357 new HIV cases reported last year were contracted through homosexual sex. Reducing these numbers will require the Government and NGOs working with MSMs to get over some bumps together at a national level.

According to Mr Stuart Koe, CEO of gay media company Fridae.com, "the left hand is not talking to the right hand" yet.

"The Ministry of Health (MOH) wants to do health prevention through safe sex, but the Media Development Authority says that anything gay is not allowed," he said. "It's a conundrum we're in."

For example, targeted messages that can reach the gay community through gay magazines are not feasible because such publications are not allowed. Currently, safe sex messages are displayed in premises like gay bars and saunas, which have limited reach.

According to Mr Bryan Choong, the MSM HIV coordinator for Oogachaga, a support group for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered individuals, NGOs and the Government also need to get past Section 377A of the Penal Code.

He said, "I think there is a lot of trust building that is needed between MSM-related NGOs and the Government in Singapore. As long as there is no decriminalising, that trust will be eroded."

Mr Choong thinks the number of MSM HIV cases are under-reported, and cited a 60 per cent infection rate as more believable.

Here, the under-reporting stems from late HIV notifications, that is, patients who delay seeking treatment here until required.

Dr Balaji, who had previously told Today that almost all HIV cases are captured in the system eventually — once they seek treatment — has noted the stigmatisation of those who are diagnosed with HIV.

He stressed the need to tackle HIV as a health issue. "Whatever (the NSW) authorities wanted to do, they didn't politicise or extend the debate out of healthcare."

So successful was NSW's anti-HIV efforts that NGOs managed to get up to 80 per cent of MSMs to get tested annually.

Other issues in Singapore include the issue of anti-retroviral medication being unsubsidised. While HIV patients can buy cheaper generic versions overseas, it may be harder for them to stick to the medication regime, thus strengthening the resistance of the viral strain, critics argue.

Cooperation between the Singapore Government and NGOs is slowly strengthening, though. The trip to Sydney included representatives from Action for Aids, Fridae.com and Oogachaga alongside MOH's senior director for operations Koh Peng Keng and deputy director of communicable diseases Dr Jeffery Cutter.

Just before the trip, an MOH survey found one in 350 anonymous hospital blood samples to be HIV-positive, and since then Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan has said he is "seriously considering" opt-out HIV screening for males admitted to hospital.

In response to Today's queries about how the latest information from NSW would be adapted to the local environment, the MOH said: "We will be looking into strengthening our local NGOs in terms of resources and will also seek ways to work more closely together in the design, delivery and monitoring and evaluation of HIV prevention programmes.

"We will also look into how we can better draw upon our local universities to conduct HIV-related research."

TODAY: Voices - Gay Men - God's Gift to Women (Jul 21)

TODAY - VOICES (21 Jul)

GAY MEN – GOD’S GIFT TO WOMEN

NATASHA NAIR

I DON’T think I could have walked through life’s journey without the handful of quality gay friendships that I have had in the last 15 years.

The relationship between a gay man and a heterosexual woman is unique; it is supportive and agenda-less, making it the most comfortable relationship in the world.

During the turbulent times in my life, it was Stanley who took me out and checked on me
every Sunday night to see whether I was ready to face the world bravely on Monday.

When I was entertaining thoughts of leaving Singapore and starting life anew overseas, it
was Stanley who wrote me an email saying he didn’t want me to go but would support me in
whatever decision I made.

And when I relocated to a foreign land, another gay friend suggested we become housemates as it would be safer for me and we could also save on the rent.

I remember telling my parents about having him as a housemate and my old man remarked:
“Consider yourself blessed.”

Likewise, women can be natural supporters for gay men. Many gay men tell me they did not have a happy childhood because they could not truly be at ease with their family members. It is usually through their female friends that gay men are able to experience the joys of having a loving family.

Through women, gay men can also be assured of a smooth integration into society at large. They can enjoy the joys of “fatherhood” through our children and fill the vacuum left by absentee fathers.

Contrary to what many people think, paternal instincts are as strong in gay men as they are in straight men. I remember taking Anil to the birth of a colleague’s son. As we walked out of the hospital, he said rather sadly: “As much as I want fatherhood, I can never have that unconditional joy.”

He once asked me if I would shun him when I have children, as most straight couples do. That question opened my eyes to a possibility I had never considered — that perhaps one day, he could babysit my children and enjoy the joy of being around them. Gay men can also be the best, nonpaid consultants when a woman is finding her feet in the world of dating.

Thanks to women’s lib and being forced to work and think like a man in the corporate
world, many women have forgotten how to behave like a woman during a date. Gay men have the biology and sex drive of men — and the sensitivity of women — to offer their female friends a helicopter view into the world of men.

Also, observing the way gay men reinvent themselves offers a woman some great insights
into how one can stay single, have demanding careers, go travelling and have exciting
hobbies such as joining Aids awareness groups.

Conversations with gay men can be liberating due to their being smack in the middle
of the human behavioural spectrum. Ken surprised me one night during dinner as we chatted for hours about South Beach diets, our waistlines and the hottest travel destinations.
Then, there’s Stanley who regularly emails me on his saucy sauna escapades and the like.

I know how all this sounds frivolous but, sometimes, we could do with some mindless
chatter to make us forget momentarily the goings-on at the office.

It is the gay men in my life who have helped me come to terms with my identity
as a woman — that there is nothing wrong with being a woman, and acting like one,
in a male-dominated corporate world. From Dash, I have received gorgeous Russian jewellery and a cute, really short dress as birthday presents.

Stanley, meanwhile, sends me heartfelt SMSes. When I agreed to go to a dance class
with him, he sent me a text message the same night, which said: “I am so excited to
see more of you in the future. Isn’t that wonderful! Hugs and kisses.”

He would also see me off after class. I used to tell him that I am older than him but having him dote over me does give me a warm feeling in my heart. I know he values me for my friendship — period. There’s no other agenda.

In praising gay men, I am certainly not talking down heterosexual men and I am thankful for all those straight men who have made many a woman’s life complete. But I dare say, for women who have discovered gay men as friends, life takes on a whole new meaning, with new horizons they could never have imagined before opening up.

Natasha is an accidental writer.

TODAY: On Section 377A (Jul 16)

On Section 377A ...

Forum on gay law well-attended, but change unlikely: MPs

Monday . July 16, 2007

Nazry Bahrawi
nazry@mediacorp. com.sg

THE room was packed, the panellists were passionate and the questions came
fast and furious.

This was the mood yesterday as over 200 people gathered to discuss a hot
issue - should homosexuality remain outlawed here?

Leading the discussion, organised by local theatre company W!ld Rice at the
National Library, were an eclectic mix of five individuals: MP (Tanjong
Pagar GRC) Baey Yam Keng; Nominated MP Siew Kum Hong; gay activist Alex Au;
CEO of gay community website Fridae.com, Dr Stuart Koe; and Reverend Dr Yap
Kim Hao, a former Methodist bishop who serves on the Inter-Religious
Organisation (IRO) council.

Although Section 377A, which criminalises homosexual acts, may come up for
debate in Parliament as part of the Penal Code changes, for two panellists
at least, the prospect that it would be repealed any time soon seems highly
unlikely.

Said Mr Baey: "Personally, I think the whip should be lifted for a very open
debate and open expression of opinion by the MPs. And if that was so, I
would vote for a repeal of the act. From my understanding of my
parliamentary colleagues, my guess is that I will be in the minority."

However, Mr Siew told the audience - most of whom indicated during the forum
that they wanted Section 377A repealed - that the battle was not to convince
the naysayers, but those who are undecided about whether homosexuality
should be decriminalised.

The NMP said change would only be possible "once you get that mass, enough
people in the middle, to agree with you", but added: "I don't think we're at
that point."

Mr Siew cited a heartland survey published in May by Today, in which 62.3
per cent of 300 respondents disagreed that homosexuality should be legal.
"That shows that a clear majority are saying that homosexuality of people is
not acceptable to them."

But even if more people were to support decriminalisation, that may not be
enough.

Said Mr Baey: "From what I understand about how the Government works, I
don't think the Government will be making a decision based on a survey ...
The Government will want to make its own stand and position on issues like
this, and for this it requires a mindset shift."

And to change mindsets, "you've got to frame it in a lingo that will
convince the Government", Mr Siew suggested.

"And what's that lingo? I think we all know. It's all about growth, jobs,
money. If you can make a convincing case that 377A is somehow affecting
that, I think you've got a really good chance."

He acknowledged that changing the laws on homosexuality would put
Malay/Muslim MPs in a difficult position with their community.

But it is not just the Muslims who feel strongly about the issue.

Reverend Dr Yap said that within the Christian faith in Singapore there was
a "minority which is vocal" which strongly opposes any move to repeal the
Act.

Mr Au, however, argued that the debate on Section 377A was not one of
religion, but civil rights.

In response, Mr Siew pointed out: "Pitching your arguments in terms of civil
rights ... will not take it very far."

His suggestion of linking the decriminalisation of homosexual acts to
economic benefits drew a range of responses from the audience - as well as
other panellists, including Mr Koe, who said he would feel insulted if the
decision were to depend on dollars and cents.

Whatever their stand, almost everyone present agreed that such a forum would
not have been possible five years ago - a sign that Singapore is now a lot
more open to different points of view.

TODAY: A web beacon for transgenders (May 28, 2007)

A web beacon for transgenders

A project coordinator by day, he uses his net-savvy skills at night to reach out to an unlikely group

Monday . May 28, 2007

Cheow Xin Yi and Esther Fung
news@newstoday. com.sg

A sword-wielding wushu (martial arts) enthusiast who is also a father of two, Daniel is not someone you would readily associate with the transgender community.

So when the assistant manager of a construction firm decided to start a local web portal for the group two years ago, he was - not surprisingly - inundated with questions from those around him.

"Many people ask me for a reason. You can say it's sympathy or empathy, I seriously do not know. It's like asking, 'Why would you make a donation or do charity?'" he said.

Daniel met his first transsexual friend online more than 10 years ago during the early era of IRC (Internet Relay Chat), who "showed him what it was like to be a 'sister'," a local lingo for male-to-female transsexuals.

As he befriended more through the net, he started toying with the idea of forming an online support group for the transgendered, which consists of transsexuals, or those who wish to become members of the opposite gender, and cross-dressers.

"The focus is on the net-savvy ones. They are generally young, clueless about life, with no one to turn to besides surfing the web for information, " he said.

Garnering previous experience with hosting websites for the wushu community, Daniel finally set up SgButterfly. org in 2005, a website dedicated to the transgender community in Singapore.

While it focuses on transgender issues, anyone - including non-transgender people - can participate in discussion forums or register as SgButterfly members.

The open nature of the portal is deliberate, said Daniel, since a big objective of SgButterfly is to create awareness of a group prone to misconceptions.

"The idea is to educate people with proper information on issues like transgenderism and Gender Identity Disorder (GID)," he said.

GID is a psychiatric condition commonly associated with transsexuals.

Fully aware of the sensitivity of the topic, Daniel, however, stressed that education in this sense does not mean advocating a lifestyle.

"In life, nothing is 'the right way'. Information and discussions within the portal is to bring knowledge to all, but the decision to accept is really up to individuals, " said the 35-year-old, who takes pains to make sure that his website keeps within Media Development Authority guidelines.

Acknowledging that gaining public understanding for the group does not come overnight, Daniel is happy meanwhile with the progress that SgButterfly has made in uniting the community.

It currently has more than 900 members, monthly hits of 600,000 and 200,000 page views, a result Daniel considers "very successful for a local portal catering to a niche group".

Besides online activities, Daniel also organises monthly outings to further reach out to members.

But maintaining the website is no easy task. Besides the hours spent every night (four hours initially) to generate discussion and build up member base, Daniel has had to fend off online intruders who harassed members or solicited openly and privately.

To enforce tight measures for the website's non-soliciting policy, Daniel has eight moderators monitoring the forums everyday, removing and banning participants who break the rules spelt clearly on the website.

And of course, there were the raised eyebrows about his liaison with the community.

While his wife and parents approve of his SgButterfly activities, his wife has requested that his face not be identified for this article, for fear of a public backlash.

But Daniel is amazingly upfront with what he is doing - even his superiors at work know about his "interest". In fact, some SgButterfly members have visited Daniel - who stays in a four-room flat in Teck Whye with his wife - for Chinese New Year.

"I talk to lots of my colleagues about SgButterfly and its members. Many actually want to know more about my movement out of curiosity. They don't object, but neither do they openly accept it."