The banning of the Festival by the Malaysian Police is a fundamental disregard of the rights of the Malaysian Citizens to freedom of speech and expression.

Mr. Khalid Abu Bakar, Deputy inspector General of Police in his statement also shows blatant disregard to the Human Rights of the LGBT community in Malaysia, and clearly does not consider their rights as Human Rights.

We strongly urge the Malaysian authorities to reinstate the festival and celebrate the diversity that is truly Asia.

Poedjiati Tan & Sahran Abeysundara
Asian Representatives to the ILGA WORLD Board

So we are inviting you to submit your original artwork and creative pieces to the “Violence is Not Our Culture: The SOGI Project”. We will compile winning submissions and selected voluntary contributions into a bound plain paper notebook that is designed to raise public awareness regarding issues faced by the LGBTIQ community in Malaysia. By participating in this competition and contributing your creative pieces, you will help us say to all Malaysians, that in the face of violence, “silence is not an option” and that “violence is not our culture”.

KRYSS is an organisation that works with young people on the issue of discrimination and rights through creative platforms. KRYSS continues to adopt the vision that it was first founded on: “We are committed to a world where young people feel safe and empowered to be themselves, to define and express their own hopes, dreams and realities, and act upon them without fear of discrimination or violence. Where diversity, creativity and personal capacities are celebrated and nurtured, and each person regardless of gender is empowered in body, mind and spirit.”

Seksualiti Merdeka is an annual sexuality rights festival held in Kuala Lumpur, and represents a coalition of Malaysian NGOs and volunteers. “We believe that everyone in Malaysia deserves to be free from discrimination, harassment and violence for their sexual orientations and their gender identities. We believe it is our right to be responsible for our own bodies. We believe everyone is entitled to the freedom to love and the freedom to be, whether gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersexed, straight, asexual, pansexual, or simply fabulous.”

HOW TO ENTER

Theme: Artwork must send across the message that “Violence is not our culture” and that violence, stigma and discrimination against any member of the LGBTIQ community has no justification. Artistic as well as positive interpretations of the message is encouraged. The artwork may centre on any one or any combination of the Yogyakarta Principles ; or the 29 Ways towards an LGBTIQ-friendly Malaysia. The artwork may also use the six colours of the rainbow flag in any form or manner. Each artwork submission must be accompanied by an explanatory concept of the visual, written in either English or Bahasa Malaysia. Artists must also submit a personal message of their own to accompany each of their artwork submission.

Contest Eligibility. The competition is open to artists 18 years or older. Work must be original, and not photographs of the original. Original photography and original digital art are acceptable. Work will be judged on creativity, technical expertise, content as well as the artistic interpretation and effectiveness of the messaging. Artwork not meeting these four key criteria will not be considered during final judging. A bound plain paper notebook will be made from winning designs, so work will also be considered by ease of reproduction for this format and for the cover. Artists may enter as many works as they choose, but are only eligible to win one cash prize.

Voluntary Contributions. Artists may also enter voluntary contributions. Voluntarily contributed work must be original and can be in the form of photographs, artwork or poetry. Artists must submit a personal message of their own to accompany each voluntarily contributed creative piece. If creative piece is selected for reproduction, artist will be provided with one free plain paper notebook. Artists may only receive one free plain paper notebook irrespective of number of voluntary contributions selected for reproduction.

Media. Any two-dimensional medium reproducible by photographic process is acceptable. Three-dimensional work with a depth no greater than 3/8” is also acceptable.

Size. For those vying for the 1st prize cash award dedicated to designing the cover, artwork must be 21 cm (height) x 1.4 cm (spine) x 15 cm (width) x 1.4 cm (spine) x 5 to 10 cm (variable width for flip cover) with a bleed margin of 0.5 cm. See template (PDF file) attached. The width for the flip cover will depend on the artwork being submitted as cover design and the artist’s own decision. The design may be either vertical or horizontal.

Other artwork submissions (vying for the 2nd, 3rd and consolation prizes) must be 20.5 cm x 14.5 cm, with a bleed margin of 0.5 cm. The design may be either vertical or horizontal. Variations of any artwork submitted for the cover design may also be entered.

Format. All artwork must be sent as high-resolution (minimum 300 dpi) PDFs (recommended). High-resolution JPGs or Illustrator AI/EPS formats are also acceptable.

Cash Awards. Each of the winning artists will be eligible for Awards of Excellence. The first cash prize award of RM1,000/- will be given to the artwork chosen for the cover design based on the specifications provided above. RM500/- will be awarded for the second prize and RM300/- for the third prize. There will also be ten consolation prizes of RM200/- each. Artists may only win one cash prize.

Judging. Judging for the competition will be held a week after the closing date. Judges will comprise of both artists and activists of different backgrounds and experiences. Winners will be notified individually by phone or e-mail. Judges’ decisions are final.

Copyright. Artists may retain ownership over all their original artwork and voluntary contributions submitted. By entering their artwork and participating in this contest and project, artists hereby grant permission to KRYSS and/or Seksualiti Merdeka to reproduce the winning entries and selected voluntary contributions. Artists also hereby agree to KRYSS and/or Seksualiti Merdeka reproducing their artwork under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. This license lets others distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

Winning artworks will be featured alongside other LGBTIQ-centric text and visuals in the plain paper notebook. KRYSS and/or Seksualiti Merdeka reserves the right to feature all submitted artwork and creative pieces in other collaterals/printed matter for any purpose in relation to the documentation of violence, stigma and discrimination of the LGBTIQ community in Malaysia as well as in relation to the protection and promotion of the human rights of the LGBTIQ community in Malaysia.

To enter. Entries must be received by 11th September 2011. Entries should include full name of artist, mobile phone contact number, e-mail address contact, and a short bio (100 words) of the artist.

Entries must be e-mailed to: violenceisnotourculture @ gmail.com.

IMPORTANT: Both KRYSS and Seksualiti Merdeka are not responsible for the return of any artwork or if reproductions do not match the expectations of the artist. KRYSS and Seksualiti Merdeka reserve the right to use a standard cover for the plain paper notebook and to make any other alterations to the specifications of the bound paper notebook.

All proceeds will be channeled to the Justice for Sisters Fund.
Below are the details:

JUSTICE FOR SISTERS Fundraising Concert

Date: Saturday February 12, 2011

Time: 2pm – 10pm

Venue: Black Box, MAP KL

Admission:

Show 1 (2pm – 4pm) RM 10 by donation

Show 2 (5pm – 7pm) RM 15 by donation

Show 3 (8pm – 10 pm) RM 15 by donation

Featuring:

chi too, Buka Kolektif, DUNG, Dara Othman, Davina Goh, Elaine Foster, Ferns , Furniture, Furious George feat Operasi Sabu (George Wielgus, Faisal and Kuning), Illya Sumanto, Kathleen Choo, KG, Krisis Halusinasi, Mei Chern, Nabila Nasir, PT’S Angels feat Sajad and Sharon, Priya K, Reza Salleh, Sheena, Tanjong, Think!Tadpole!Think!, Tshiung Han See

Press Release:STOP THE VIOLENCE AND PERSECUTION TOWARDS US
Press Statement by the Mak Nyah Community of Malaysia

Contact: Thilaga
Date: 30 November 2010

We are the Mak Nyah community and we are being persecuted by Section 66 on “Lelaki berlagak seperti perempuan” of the Syariah Criminal Enactment (Negeri Sembilan) 1992 (please refer to this section and similar sections in other states in Malaysia in Appendix 1). We have suffered mental distress, physical violence and even sexual molestation at the hands of the religious officers who enforce these laws. We are stripped of a life of dignity and deprived of our personal liberty, and we fear for our lives. We are unable to step out of our homes without the fear of getting harassed, abused or arrested. We are no longer able to go out or to eat and drink in public without the fear of harassment and abuse from the religious officers who enforce these laws. We demand that the religious authorities of the State of Negeri Sembilan and all its officers stop harassing, victimising and persecuting us for who we are.

In Negeri Sembilan where we live, we are forced to walk around without our brassieres as it is used as evidence against us upon arrest. We are “advised” by the religious officers to just wear t-shirts, track bottoms or men’s shorts. Despite following these instructions, we are still arrested on the basis that we physically look like women. We are sexually molested or our breasts are groped when the religious officers who enforce these laws insist on checking if we are wearing brassieres. We are sometimes made to change our clothes in full view of the religious officers.

We are instructed to plead “Guilty” by the religious officers and even by the state’s Legal Aid Bureau. Without proper legal advice, we plead “guilty” and as a result we are sentenced with heavy fines and sometimes we even face imprisonment. Under such laws, it is impossible for us to live and earn a living. Sometimes, we are also compelled to attend mandatory religious counseling sessions. We are Mak Nyahs. No amount of “counseling” or coercion can ever change that. All we ask is to be left alone and for respect of our personal and private lives. Such mandatory counseling we consider to be an infringement of our personal liberty.

We also suffer hardships in obtaining employment as we are discriminated against by employers on the basis of who we are. We suffer rejection in schools and in some institutions of higher learning. At the latter, we are sometimes required to attend boot camps in order to make us more “manly”.

As Mak Nyahs, we have the right to live with dignity like all citizens in Malaysia. We have the right to our identity, the right to self-expression in our dress and mannerisms, the right to respect for our personal and private life and the right to livelihood as other citizens in Malaysia. These are our fundamental liberties as enshrined in Articles 5, 8 and 10 of the Federal Constitution, the supreme law of the land. Any law that violates our rights arbitrarily is no longer good law.

These are also violations of our human rights under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Jogjakarta Principles on human rights relating to sexual orientation and gender identity.

We ask the Legislative assemblypersons of Negeri Sembilan, the Negeri Sembilan Religious Department Directors and all other Malaysian elected representatives and leaders to stop the violence and persecution that has been targeted against our Mak Nyah community.

We appeal to all who believe in freedom under the Federal Constitution, human rights, non-discrimination and equality, to stand with us and join us in our call for the stop of the targeted persecution and violence towards our Mak Nyah community in Malaysia.

The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC) will be presenting an adaptation of Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot” from 1 to 5 September.

Hailed as the most significant English language play of the 20th Century, “Waiting for Godot” is a masterpiece by the Irish avant-garde writer, dramatist and poet. It was described as Theatre of the Absurd and it was this kind of writing that won him the Noble Prize in 1969.

The fact is this play and its characters continue to shock, amuse, entertain, engage and move theatre goers all over the world just as it did when it was first staged more than 50 years ago. Back then, people were shocked more than anything because nothing quite like it had been attempted before and it truly redefined what was possible in theatre.

Vivian Mercier in Irish Times wrote that the play ‘has achieved a theoretical impossibility—a play in which nothing happens, that yet keeps audiences glued to their seats.’ A recent Theatre Royal Haymarket (UK) production of “Waiting for Godot” starring Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart broke all box office records with a sold out national tour and an extended run on West End.

In the two-act play, two men wait expectantly for a mysterious man by the name of Godot to arrive. They occupy themselves by silly conversation; they argue, joke, contemplate suicide and even sing and dance. Who is this Godot they are waiting for? Does he arrive?

The upcoming production will be directed by KLPAC’s Resident Director, Kimmy Kiew, who brought us “A Women of Silk River” and “A Loser / Pilgrim” earlier this year. This will be a more ambitious venture no doubt. Going against Beckett’s objection to having female actors performing this play, the script has been adapted so that the two men will now be two transgender women played by Fairuz Tauhid and Yuki Choe with Jerome Kugan as the boy. This is based on an original idea by Kugan and Rohaizad Suaidi. It is particularly exciting as it will mark Kugan’s debut and he will also be designing music for the show.

Through the two characters in “Waiting for Godot”, Beckett painted a very realistic picture of the human race filled with uncertainty, despair and loneliness. One can draw a parallel to the outlook faced by the marginalized transsexual female population in Malaysia. One filled with a lot of waiting, question marks and ambiguity.

Despite the loneliness the characters face, the play also celebrates the consolation of friendship between the couple and it is peppered with humorous moments. Beckett is a master of language and his wittiness and Kimmy’s keen direction will have you on your edge listening to every single word.

SAMUEL BECKETT’S WAITING FOR GODOT

Presenter : The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC)
Director : Kimmy Kiew
Artistic Director : Joe Hasham OAM
Executive Producer : Dato’ Faridah Merican
Featuring : Fairuz Tauhid, Yuki Choe, Jerome Kugan
Duration of Show : 70 mins

Date & Time: 1 Sept @ 8.30pm (preview); 2 – 4 Sept @ 8.30pm, 5 Sept @ 3pm
Venue: Pentas 2, KLPAC (location map available on KLPAC website)
Ticket Prices: RM 35.00 & RM 23.00 (students & the disabled)

Promotions
PREVIEW NIGHT (1 Sept, 8:30pm): RM10 donation at the door
DRAG NIGHT (3 Sept, 8:30pm): Come in drag & get tickets @ RM23
STUDENT MATINEE (4 Sept, 3:00pm): RM15 for students

Box office
Call or Walk In – KLPAC @ Sentul Park (03 – 4047 9000)
Call or Walk In – The Actors Studio @ Lot 10 (03 – 2142 2009 / 2143 2009)
Walk In only – Axcess @ main office (Jln. Semangat) & 1-Utama outlet Online purchase – via www.klpac.org

There’s currently a petition calling for an official posthumous apology from the British government to Alan Turing, often considered as the father of modern computer science. From the official petition on the British Prime Minister’s website:

Alan Turing was the greatest computer scientist ever born in Britain. He laid the foundations of computing, helped break the Nazi Enigma code and told us how to tell whether a machine could think.

He was also gay. He was prosecuted for being gay, chemically castrated as a ‘cure’, and took his own life, aged 41.

The British Government should apologize to Alan Turing for his treatment and recognize that his work created much of the world we live in and saved us from Nazi Germany. And an apology would recognize the tragic consequences of prejudice that ended this man’s life and career.

If you’re a British citizen, do consider it and  enter your name for the petition. Read more on this, here, here, here, here.

Visit Pride48.com to get the detailed schedule. Also visit the same site for the live even this weekend. There will also be a chat room. You can also use the hash tag #pride48 in Twitter to interact with the shows.

I will be hosting two sessions. One is specifically gearing toward my Asian listeners and the other for my American listeners.

Ongline Asia:
June 27: 7AM – 9AM (CDT)
June 27: 8PM – 10PM  (Malaysian Time)

Ongline:
June 28: 4PM – 6PM (CDT)
June 29: 5AM – 7AM (Malaysian Time)

I will be joining one or possibly more sessions. I am planning to take calls on Skype and phone calls. More information to follow, once the schedule is being fixed.

If I manage to get a time that will be suitable for my listeners in Asia, I would love to hear about issues, topics, victory, challenges, etc from the GLBTQ community in Malaysia directly. Please tell your friends about this event. You can even be a part of the show. Stay tuned on TitledWorld.com for more information to come.

Visit Pride48.com for more information.

As disheartening as California Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Prop 8, the silver lining in this debacle is that more and more states are legalize same-sex marriage and/or recognizing domestic partnership.

It’s no surprise to note that anti-gay marriage supporters are focusing their resources in California (RE: Mormon Church spending a purported $41 million dollars on “Yes on the Prop 8″ campaign in the last election). California just happen to be the largest economy of the 50 US states as well as the 5th largest economy in the world. California laws can be loosely construed as the bellwether for other state laws as well (RE: the latest federal ruling on emissions emulating California emission laws). So as long as Californians are fighting for equality, so will I.

HRC article on New Hampshire’s decision:

http://www.hrc.org/12847.htm

Gov. Lynch signs legislation passed by state Senate and House of Representatives; Law will take effect Jan. 1, 2010

6/3/2009

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today applauded the state legislature and Gov. John Lynch for passing legislation to recognize marriage equality for same-sex couples under state law. The senate voted 14-10 earlier in the day in favor of the bill. The house followed later in the afternoon, voting 198-176. The law will take effect January 1, 2010. For a comprehensive summary of HRC’s work in New Hampshire, including a video and photo slideshow, visit: www.HRC.org/NHMarriage.

“With Gov. Lynch signing legislation passed by the state Senate and House, New Hampshire has become the latest state to recognize that loving, committed couples, and their families, should receive equal dignity and respect under the law,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “No religious institution will have to recognize any marriage under this law, as the language proposed by Gov. Lynch and agreed to by the legislature made abundantly clear.”

The Human Rights Campaign salutes the work of key state groups and leaders, including: Gov. John Lynch, Senate President Sylvia Larsen, Senate Majority Leader Maggie Hassan, Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Deb Reynolds, House Speaker Terie Norelli and Representatives Jim Splaine, Ed Butler, Paul McEachern, Barbara Richardson, New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition, MassEquality, GLAD, and the many activists, including HRC members, who have been working to build support for this legislation, and the majority of New Hampshire voters who support marriage equality.

“When the National Organization for Marriage [a group opposed to marriage equality] started making $50,000 ad buys in New Hampshire, I put out a call for help and HRC answered. We could not have done this without them,” said Mo Baxley, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition.

HRC made a significant commitment of resources to the successful efforts to achieve marriage equality in New Hampshire. Working with the New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition, HRC provided substantial field and communications expertise in the weeks leading up to Gov. Lynch signing the bill. HRC deployed 10 field staff to New Hampshire, hired three New Hampshire-based consultants to assist with field organizing efforts, and mobilized HRC members and supporters through online action alerts and telephone calls.

In 2006, HRC worked closely with legislators, community groups and local leaders to help elect fair-minded majorities to both the New Hampshire House of Representatives and Senate, which subsequently voted to pass civil unions legislation in 2007, followed by the marriage bill this year.

In addition to New Hampshire, five states have recognized marriage for same-sex couples under state law: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont (effective September 1, 2009), and Maine (effective September, 2009, pending a possible referendum). California recognized marriage by same-sex couples between June and November of 2008, before voters approved Proposition 8, which amended the state constitution to prohibit marriage equality. The Proposition 8 vote was challenged, but the state supreme court upheld the amendment last month. The 18,000 marriages of same-sex couples performed before the passage of Proposition 8 remain valid.

Five states—California, New Jersey, Oregon, Nevada (effective October 1, 2009), and Washington (as of July 26, 2009, pending possible repeal effort)—plus Washington, D.C. provide same-sex couples with access to the state level benefits and responsibilities of marriage, through either civil unions or domestic partnerships.

Hawaii provides same-sex couples with limited rights and benefits. New York recognizes marriages by same-sex couples validly entered into outside of New York. The New York legislature is considering marriage legislation that would permit same-sex couples to marry in those states, and the D.C. Council has passed legislation that would recognize marriages by same-sex couples legally entered into in other jurisdictions (that legislation is going through a Congressional review period).

Same-sex couples do not receive federal rights and benefits in any state. For an electronic map showing where marriage equality stands in the states, please visit: www.HRC.org/State_Laws.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

Mr. JVR Prasada Rao, Director, Regional Support Team, Asia and the Pacific, Joint United Nations
Program on AIDS (UNAIDS), added, “the 9th ICAAP promises to be an even better and bigger conference
than previous ICAAPs. There will be evidence-based discussion on whether Universal Access can be an
achievable goal by 2010 for many countries in Asia and the Pacific. Every facet of the epidemic and the
region’s responses are featured in the wide array of session and activities.”

The congress will take place at the Bali International Convention Centre (BICC) in Nusa Dua, and is
scheduled to be officially opened on 9 August by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono, in a ceremony at the Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) Cultural Park.

ICAAP is a biennial gathering for the release and discussion of scientific, programmatic and policy
developments in the global response to HIV/AIDS and is convened by AIDS Society of Asia and the Pacific (ASAP).

In his message to the 9th ICAAP, Professor Myung-Hwan Cho, President of ASAP said that
“Indonesia has been given the opportunity to take bold and innovative steps n support of the regional
response to HIV and AIDS. Countries of Asia and other regions will be waiting to see Indonesia take the lead.”

According to the Independent Commission on AIDS in Asia (2008), AIDS remains the most likely cause of
death and loss of work days among people aged 15 to 44. The number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Asia in 2007 is an estimated 5 million, with a number of new infections (380,000) comparatively speaking equal to the number of people who died from AIDS-related illnesses (380,000). In Oceania an estimated 740,000 people were living with HIV in 2007 of which 13,000 were new infections.

Reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on HIV and AIDS requires all member countries to
halt and reverse the spread of the epidemic by 2015; this includes the Universal Access target of 2010 whereby all those who need treatment should also receive it, and the urgency to strengthen each country’s health system to ensure effective delivery of services and response.

Mr Rao continued, “what is really impressive is that the conference will showcase the immense progress
made by community groups, working together and in partnership with government and other partners, in
spearheading the response in many countries in the Asia Pacific region.”

Similar to previous ICAAPs, sessions will be divided into Plenary Sessions where distinguished
researchers, community leaders and policy specialists share the latest information and experiences; 24 symposia on topics such as addressing legal barriers and criminalization of at-risk populations, and a leadership session for delegates from the Pacific region; 64 oral sessions on topics related to prevention, care support and treatment of HIV and AIDS, understanding socio-cultural, economic and political determinants in the AIDS response, and on leadership.

Besides these, 32 skills-building workshops will also be held to help delegates improve various skills that
can apply to their daily work; Satellite Meetings and Exhibitions showcase the efforts of civil society and the private sector in the response to HIV and AIDS.
Distinguished guest speakers will include Michel Sidibe, UNAIDS Executive Director; Michel Kazatchkine, Director of the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM); Kyung-Wha Kang, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights; Dr Nafiz Sadik, Special Envoy for AIDS in Asia and the Pacific; Myung Hwan Cho, President of AIDS Society of Asia and Pacific (ASAP) and representatives from Seven Sisters, Asia Pacific Network of People Living with HIV (APN+), Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers (APNSW), CARAM Asia, Asian Harm Reduction Network (AHRN), APCASO, APN Rainbow.

A Community Forum will also take place before the congress on 7–8 August, where various communities
each have their own conference to identify and share common issues and experiences. Seven
communities will be represented including people living with HIV (PLHIV); Injecting Drug Users (IDU);
Interfaith; Men who have sex with Men (MSM) and Transgender; Sex Workers; Women, including
Lesbians; and Youth.

The Asia-Pacific Village will be a friendly, fun and colorful venue to celebrate the region’s diversity, with arts and music performances, small group discussions, informal education activities, and regional stalls selling handicrafts and snacks made by people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS.

The Asia-Pacific Village will be open to the general public. Prior to the official opening ceremony on 9 August, a high-level meeting of AIDS Ambassadors will be held, co-hosted by the First Lady and National AIDS Ambassador, Mrs. Ani Bambang Yudhoyono, and AIDS Ambassador of Australia, Murray Proctor. The AIDS Ambassador’s Meeting will address the role of AIDS Ambassadors in the region in mobilizing greater action and accountability for the response.

For more information, please contact:
Ika Nazaruddin
Pacto Convex
Ph 62-21 571-9973
Ika_nazar@cbn.net.id
Elis Widen
Congress Coordinator
Ph 62-21 571-9973
elis.widen@icaap9.org
Ristya Paramita
Public Information Officer
Ph. 62-21-39838845/46
ristya.paramita@icaap9.org

Just a quick note (I’m at work!) to blog readers, LiveJournal (LJ)-ers, and potential LJ-ers out there: A new LJ community has been formed to harness the power of journalers from the Malaysian queer community.

As you can see from the introductory post, it is started by baronbrutalis, who claims to be a Penangnite pansexual FTM.

Head on over and sign up if you want to!