My reply to being sexually challenged

Here is the reply I sent to ST Forum on Tan Keng Soon’s letter which we archived in PLURALSG. Don’t know if it ever gets posted though:

I refer to Tan Keng Soon’s letter on ST Forum Online “‘Sexually challenged’ isn’t anoffensive term referring to gays”, dated May 26.

In the letter, Mr. Tan made claims without any evidences from credible scientific research papers and institutions. He called people with same-sex attraction abnormal, but many credible psychological institutions, including those in Singapore, America and England, sees same-sex attraction as part of the human sexuality landscape and do not see it as an abnormality. This is like Mr. Tan saying that the earth is flat without needing to proof it.

AWARE SAGA: Of tolerance, diversity and wisdom

Before I begin, I need to declare this upfront:

I do not support any threats of physical violence to anyone or their immediate families for whatever reasons. There is just no reasons to do so. We can bitch, insult, insinuate, reason and debate, but there is never any reasons to threaten someone or their immediate family’s life. If you are doing that PLEASE STOP NOW, you are making things worst and if you decide to continue, I hope the police catch hold of you and put you where you should belong.

Okay that said, let’s continue.

You know that Thio Su Mien confession is like a did-we-tell-you-so to all those who has been calling the old guard sour pussies. As many of us have said already, those who have had close blows with the right-wingers can see the signs from miles away. Yes, these people are intolerance and they want the rest of the world to be intolerance fools just like them. And education, social and profession achievements has not bearings at all to how warped one’s mind can be. Don’t forget that a lot of serial killers out there are actually very intelligent people. However, despite their lunacy, I would always prefer to have this debate done in civil manner and should not get too personal.

An Ethicist speaks out on AWARE

This was posted by Eileena in Facebook

AN OPEN LETTER ON AWARE

Having had the opportunity to work with AWARE on several previous initiatives, I would like to state for the public record, that I was deeply impressed with the seriousness, sincerity and depth of commitment of AWARE volunteers and counsellors that I have encountered over the years. AWARE, through the efforts of generations of long-term members, has made invaluable contributions to the protection of women, to supporting vulnerable members of the community, and to public education.

I was therefore deeply disturbed to learn of the events at AWARE’s AGM in which there appeared to have been a concerted attempt at hijacking an organisation that has worked consistently and quietly in Singapore to protect and promote the interests of women. What is particularly objectionable is the lack of transparency of the new office bearers concerning their alternative vision for Singapore’s oldest women’s group. What is it about their new vision which is so threatening that they feel they are unable to communicate it publicly? If, on the other hand, as they say, they are not communicating their position because they are new office bearers and have not as yet gained an understanding of the organisation, then questions need to be raised concerning their suitability for office as it suggests that they are ill-prepared and ill- qualified to lead this organisation. This is especially true when you consider the wealth of experience and talent already existing in AWARE, from whom office-bearers could be drawn. The secrecy which has shrouded the new executive committee and also the manner in which the new leadership has come to power has left significant doubt in the minds of concerned observers as to their integrity, honour and good intentions.

AWARE of wolves in sheep clothing

One of the problem with AWARE saga for outside commentators, that is those who have not dealt with religious right-wingers nor familiar with gay issues or women issues, is that they tend to paint the old guards in AWARE as sore losers, still wanting to grapple for power despite losing legally.

To be fair, the election was not illegal, I believe AWARE’s constitution allowed for such power grapping to happen.  So the issue here is not that some religious right-wingers have grabbed power in AWARE, but rather why and for what motive.

The old guards in AWARE having worked with women issue for so long would have good idea what for women’s right should and can take, including gay women issue and they will be aware of what kind of ideas would be detrimental for women.

DBS credit cards, FOTF, AWARE and homophobia

An interesting titbit arose from this article from CNA today: Women’s advocacy group Aware picks new president.

The newly elected president, Ms Josie Lau, is the VP of DBS Bank cards division. Her husband is, Alan Chin (no need to say more, just look up the internet) and guess who is his relative (according to sources, correct me if I am wrong)… Ms Thio Li-Ann is his cousin!

Now this examples the possibility of how DBS cards can help to promote a terrorist organisation (I will explain why I call it terrorist) like Focus on the Family’s “innocent” child care charity. Although, I must say that it could have been someone else in DBS.

Anyway, like I have said, its really AWARE’s business. The girls just have to be more organised next time to prevent such incidents from happening again.

AWAREness in our midst

I guess by now, most of you all would have know about the “takeover” of AWARE leadership by newbies, not just any newbies, but those who have been associated with right-wing fundamentalist christian organisations.

Now, what is interesting is that immediately you will have nahsayers, such as agooga commenter in this blog (and I think the person writing the blog has his brains in space), immediately justifying why they thought people should not try to repeal 377a… because of backlash. What rubbish! Of course, anytime you try to create a better and more equal society, such as the black and women movement, where the oppression feels that its their god-given right to maintain the inequality (ala bhumi putra in Malaysia) and to discriminate those they are not their kind, they will try to re-enforce their “moral right” like a spoilt child.

This is to be expected