I was locked
into being my mother’s daughter,
I was just eating bread and water
thinking nothing ever changes,
and I was shocked
to see the mistakes of each generation
will just fade like a radio station
if you drive out of range

If you’re not angry
you’re just stupid
or you don’t care
How else can you react
when you know
something’s so unfair
The men of the hour
can kill half the world in war
make them slaves to a super power
and let them die poor

There’s one big reason to visit Singapore come 10 Feb, 2009. Grammy award winner, Righteous Babe Records owner, feminist icon and lesbian favourite singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco will be performing in the Esplanade.

I love the woman’s work, I do. And while I might slide off my chair at the idea of some idol worshipping in Singapore, budget and time constraints will most likely prevent me from doing so (sponsors, anyone?). Still, for those who are fortunate enough to have the opportunity, head on down to Singapore for Ani’s gig.

More information available at the SISTIC website.

Taken from Time:

Oh, those crazy Hollywood liberals—show ‘em an opportunity to school the nation on civic duty, and they never fail to jump. While this tendency can sometimes lean towards the sanctimonious, not so this farcical Funny or Die skit, in which composer Marc Shaiman wrangled a glittering cast of comedians to weigh in on the controversial California ballot initiative passed last month.

As you might expect, “Prop 8 — The Musical” is Shaiman’s attempt to pick apart the anti-gay marriage lobby’s logic. Lending support to the cause are Jack Black, John C. Reilly, Maya Rudolph, Craig Robinson, Neil Patrick Harris and Allison Janney (who, in a cheeky nod to Mormons’ support of the ballot initiative, is listed in the title credits as “Prop 8 Leader’s #1 Wife”). Despite the collection of comedic chops on stage, the spoof isn’t trying to be funny. Well, OK, it is — but the larger point it intends to hammer home is that not all Biblical doctrine is eminently reasonable (avid West Wing watchers will recall one or two of these lines from a famous Jed Bartlet smackdown). And though the video isn’t a full barrel of laughs, it’s packed with its share of wit, with both Black (as a laid-back, rotund Jesus) and Harris turning in pretty good solos. (See the Top 10 Plays and Musicals.)

Shaiman, whose songwriting credits include showstoppers from South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, called his troupe the “Sacramento Community College Players” because of outrage that the city’s California Musical Theater director had given money to a pro-Prop 8 campaign. In an interview with the New York Times, he calls the video a “viral picket sign.” Though he concedes he executed the idea “six weeks later than he shoulda,” he nailed the viral aspect. In just a few days, it’s racked up more than 2 million views.

lllllllllllll

As we walk on the long weary path we call our lives, we stumble upon parts in which we are forced to make a choice. Some choose to take the path less taken; some choose to follow their hearts’ desires. But all in all, will it bring us to the future we hope for remains questionable. The choices we make and the choices others make are sometimes merely a simple indication of our hearts’ desires. What do we want for ourselves? Some of us can’t really answer this question. Those who are generally holier than thou would reply that they want to please God and to live in His will. Others who are deluded by the prospects of fame and fortune will merely say I want to be rich and famous. But what do YOU want? What does your heart desire most? That’s a question you have to answer in your own time, and till you manage to answer this question, you haven’t truly matured yet.While others may believe that our choices are selfish and against both God’s will and against the norm, we pursue them anyway. In the process, others will still try to change our choices as a feeble attempt to put their choices in our path. Your parents will do certain things and say it’s for your own good. Your friends will say that they’re doing this because they care for you. Both reasons are generally truthful but the very last question remains, but what’s your role in this decision making process? Will their choice fill the void in your heart? Will you be the person you dream of being and all in all, will that silent wish of yours ever come true? There is no reason for you take make a choice just to please others. Perhaps it is time for us to go against the world and stand up for who and what we are.

We have to come to an understanding that all of us seek different things and that’s why sometimes we end up believing that the other party is misled. What is right and what is wrong remains a question without an answer. While some of us may place their lives on the top of their decision making hierarchy, others may not do so. A mother who had lost her daughter in an accident may put her only remaining son on the very top of her list of factors to consider while a father in the same condition may put his supply of alcohol and sex on the top of his list. The general human nature would believe that what the mother is doing is right and what the father is doing is obviously wrong. But who would ever know that it was the mother’s protective actions that broke her homosexual son’s heart whilst the father’s choice of being sick and drunk that made the family stay together to nurse him? The way life works is beyond our comprehension. We are but mere mortals living to fulfill our very own purpose.  Every step we take to realize our dreams will sometimes be the undoing of our wishes. But then again, it’s just the human nature to keep on trying. Sometimes we try so hard, even when we know that the future we are trying so hard to avoid is indeed, inevitable. It’s like trying to make a straight guy fall in love with you, you know the odds are definitely against you but you love him anyway. Secretly you are betting on the 0.1% chance that he may be a bisexual even when he secretly onfides in you that he’s interested in a certain hot chick.

I fell in love with my best friend, and even though I knew he was straight and I would get hurt, I loved him anyway.Guess all we can do is to keep on choosing, regardless of where it’ll lead us to. We only have a choice over the action and none over the result. This little power of choice is all we have, though it can’t always bring us the ending that we want, we can always still live in denial and believe that it will bring the happy ever after we yearn. This little bit of belief is however what we call HOPE.

Wherever the trail leads you and whatever the choice you make, have hope and one day it will lead you to your very own fairytale.

(Yoga for Muslims - Illustration by Mohd Wahhab bin Tawfiq Salafi)

In our conversations, one remark has cropped up frequently. Some situations were meant to be turned into t-shirt slogans:

Lesbians for yoga; mass sun-salutations, anyone? Somewhat ironically, I never liked yoga anyway.

by ThosPayne

from: http://www.colfaxrecord.com/detail/91429.html

A Kiev art museum contains a curious icon from St. Catherine’s Monastery on Mt. Sinai in Israel. It shows two robed Christian saints. Between them is a traditional Roman ‘pronubus’ (a best man), overseeing a wedding. The pronubus is Christ. The married couple are both men.

Is the icon suggesting that a gay “wedding” is being sanctified by Christ himself? The idea seems shocking. But the full answer comes from other early Christian sources about the two men featured in the icon, St. Sergius and St. Bacchus, two Roman soldiers who were Christian martyrs. These two officers in the Roman army incurred the anger of Emperor Maximian when they were exposed as ‘secret Christians’ by refusing to enter a pagan temple. Both were sent to Syria circa 303 CE where Bacchus is thought to have died while being flogged. Sergius survived torture but was later beheaded. Legend says that Bacchus appeared to the dying Sergius as an angel, telling him to be brave because they would soon be reunited in heaven.

While the pairing of saints, particularly in the early Christian church, was not unusual, the association of these two men was regarded as particularly intimate. Severus, the Patriarch of Antioch (AD 512 - 518) explained that, “we should not separate in speech they [Sergius and Bacchus] who were joined in life”. This is not a case of simple “adelphopoiia.” In the definitive 10th century account of their lives, St. Sergius is openly celebrated as the “sweet companion and lover” of St. Bacchus. Sergius and Bacchus’s close relationship has led many modern scholars to believe they were lovers. But the most compelling evidence for this view is that the oldest text of their martyrology, written in New Testament Greek describes them as “erastai,” or “lovers”. In other words, they were a male homosexual couple. Their orientation and relationship was not only acknowledged, but it was fully accepted and celebrated by the early Christian church, which was far more tolerant than it is today.

Contrary to myth, Christianity’s concept of marriage has not been set in stone since the days of Christ, but has constantly evolved as a concept and ritual.

Prof. John Boswell, the late Chairman of Yale University’s history department, discovered that in addition to heterosexual marriage ceremonies in ancient Christian church liturgical documents, there were also ceremonies called the “Office of Same-Sex Union” (10th and 11th century), and the “Order for Uniting Two Men” (11th and 12th century).

These church rites had all the symbols of a heterosexual marriage: the whole community gathered in a church, a blessing of the couple before the altar was conducted with their right hands joined, holy vows were exchanged, a priest officiatied in the taking of the Eucharist and a wedding feast for the guests was celebrated afterwards. These elements all appear in contemporary illustrations of the holy union of the Byzantine Warrior-Emperor, Basil the First (867-886 CE) and his companion John.

Such same gender Christian sanctified unions also took place in Ireland in the late 12thand/ early 13th century, as the chronicler Gerald of Wales (‘Geraldus Cambrensis’) recorded.

Same-sex unions in pre-modern Europe list in great detail some same gender ceremonies found in ancient church liturgical documents. One Greek 13th century rite, “Order for Solemn Same-Sex Union”, invoked St. Serge and St. Bacchus, and called on God to “vouchsafe unto these, Thy servants [N and N], the grace to love one another and to abide without hate and not be the cause of scandal all the days of their lives, with the help of the Holy Mother of God, and all Thy saints”. The ceremony concludes: “And they shall kiss the Holy Gospel and each other, and it shall be concluded”.

Another 14th century Serbian Slavonic “Office of the Same Sex Union”, uniting two men or two women, had the couple lay their right hands on the Gospel while having a crucifix placed in their left hands. After kissing the Gospel, the couple were then required to kiss each other, after which the priest, having raised up the Eucharist, would give them both communion.

Records of Christian same sex unions have been discovered in such diverse archives as those in the Vatican, in St. Petersburg, in Paris, in Istanbul and in the Sinai, covering a thousand-years from the 8th to the 18th century.

The Dominican missionary and Prior, Jacques Goar (1601-1653), includes such ceremonies in a printed collection of Greek Orthodox prayer books, “Euchologion Sive Rituale Graecorum Complectens Ritus Et Ordines Divinae Liturgiae” (Paris, 1667).

While homosexuality was technically illegal from late Roman times, homophobic writings didn’t appear in Western Europe until the late 14th century. Even then, church-consecrated same sex unions continued to take place.

At St. John Lateran in Rome (traditionally the Pope’s parish church) in 1578, as many as thirteen same-gender couples were joined during a high Mass and with the cooperation of the Vatican clergy, “taking communion together, using the same nuptial Scripture, after which they slept and ate together” according to a contemporary report. Another woman to woman union is recorded in Dalmatia in the 18th century.

Prof. Boswell’s academic study is so well researched and documented that it poses fundamental questions for both modern church leaders and heterosexual Christians about their own modern attitudes towards homosexuality.

For the Church to ignore the evidence in its own archives would be cowardly and deceptive. The evidence convincingly shows that what the modern church claims has always been its unchanging attitude towards homosexuality is, in fact, nothing of the sort.

It proves that for the last two millennia, in parish churches and cathedrals throughout Christendom, from Ireland to Istanbul and even in the heart of Rome itself, homosexual relationships were accepted as valid expressions of a God-given love and committment to another person, a love that could be celebrated, honored and blessed, through the Eucharist in the name of, and in the presence of, Jesus Christ.

Food Not Bombs Kuala Lumpur will be organizing a number of things this weekend, starting from friday evening. So get ready to crash and camp at rumah FNB!

FRIDAY (19 Sept)
Bicycle Workshop by Mario
We have a new friend, Mario, who is in KL for short visit. He is from California and has lots of experience in conducting community bicycle workshops. He will be sharing some of his experiences, teaching and sharing some valuable bicycle knowledge with you. So bring along your bicycle(s) and tools. The workshop starts at 6.30 pm.

FRIDAY & SATURDAY (19 & 20 Sept)
Feminist Movie Night
After the bicycle workshop, we will start with the movies. Yay!
These are some of the movies/documentaries which will be screened on both Friday and Saturday evening.

A Jihad For Love (81 mins)
A documentary on gay, lesbian, and transgender Muslims across the Muslim and Western worlds directed by Parvez Sharma.

Incredibly True Adventure Of Two Girls In Love (94 mins)
An adventurous love story between two young women of different social and economic backgrounds who find themselves going through all the typical struggles of a new romance. The movie is written and directed by Maria Maggenti.

Bandit Queen (119 mins)
Film based upon the life of Phoolan Devi by Shekhar Kapur.

Itty Bitty Titty Committee (86 mins)
High School grad and all American gal, Anna finds her purpose and herself after she hooks up with the radical feminists in The Itty Bitty Titty Committee.

Libertarias (125 mins)
At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, the nun Maria is forced to flee her convent. She takes refuge in a brothel, until it is liberated by a woman’s anarchist group. Maria joins the group and eventually goes to the front. The women’s group faces the problems of fighting not only the nationalists, but also factions on the left seeking to impose a more traditional military structure.

Bread And Roses (110 mins)
Two Latina sisters work as cleaners in a downtown office building, and fight for the right to unionize.

Persepolis (96 mins)
Poignant coming-of-age story of a precocious and outspoken young Iranian girl that begins during the Islamic Revolution.

The order will be decided on Friday and Saturday. The only way to find out which movie/docu will go first is to come and watch it.
Bring your movies or docus on feminism or sexuality, will show it if they look more interesting.

Movies will start at 8pm on Friday and 4pm on Saturday.
If you can draw a line, then you are qualified for this. We have lots of plain bland cream walls, so we wanna make them pretty and colourful and artsy. Bring your paints, spray cans or whatever to help “decorate”. No exact time. Come whenever you feel like it!

SUNDAY (21 Sept)
Tabling
We will start cooking at around 2pm at the house. Feel free to join us. Help chop, cook, clean, and make noise.

FRIDAY & SATURDAY
Mural painting/wall scribbling/art making/spray painting/conteng-conteng

Since we will be hanging around at the house watching movie and stuff, feel free to bring along food so that it can be shared with everyone. Potluck. We hope to see you at the house this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. If you need more info, you can visit www.fnbkl.blogspot.com, e-mail Thilaga  (thilaga.sulathireh@gmail.com) or call the house at 03-7955 094.

Milk

Watch the trailer here.

This is footage of rehearsals from American Vampire by the Wicked Boy Ballet Co, choreographed by Trevor Little, performed by Trevor Little and David Dubois. Apparently, it’s not just about vampires, it’s about the shape of the American soul.

Both dancers are in beautiful form, ravishing each other through dramatic choreography. The interaction between them, viewed as a romantic relationship, looks like one wraught with grief and pathos, the struggle for dominance - actually, I kid. Watching guys suck at each other’s necks, the only thing that makes me call it possibly latent homosexuality is that they’re vampires - these might not be gay vampires, they could just be doing it for the narrative! I’m tempted to make Anne Rice / yaoi manga comparisons.

Anyway, that’s not what matters - the dancing is gorgeous. I’ve love to see it.

More about the dance company here:

The Wicked Boy Ballet Co. is a contemporary men’s dance/theatre group based in Boston, MA. It’s mission is to explore story telling techniques through dance from a modern perspective, and to develop the internet as a unique artistic medium for the performing arts. 

WHO ARE WE?

Well…WE’RE WICKED

As in: wicked bad…or…wicked cool…or…”the wintah in Bahston is wicked bittah”…or…”I can kick my foahead wicked hahd!!!”

WE’RE BOYS.

‘Nuff said. We’re not opposed to girls. We like girls…well…some of us, at least. They’re useful. Sometimes. 

WE LIVE IN BOSTON.

So, you know…we eat at Dunkin’ Donuts a lot, and like, we hate giving directions… and we’ll tailgate your ass like a mo-fo.

WE’RE REALLY REALLY SEXY.

Trust us. Studies have conclusively shown that the Wicked Boys are, in fact, one of the leading causes of puberty in America today. No one wants to talk about it, but it’s true.

Would we lie?

(from their About Us page)

With a name like Wicked Boy Ballet Co, what’s not to like?

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Pecah Lobang: Muslim transsexual sex workers in Malaysia from Poh Si Teng on Vimeo.

 ”Pecah Lobang” was directed by Poh Si Teng (http://www.pohsi.com), one of the winners of the Freedom Film Fest 2008.

“Pecah Lobang”, which means “busted”, explores what it’s like to be a Muslim transsexual sex worker in Malaysia.

Shot in the Chow Kit red light district, the documentary revolves around Natasha, a Muslim Mak Nyah, who refuses to live life as a man. Unable to secure employment because of discrimination, Natasha turns to sex work and lives in constant fear of the police and religious authorities.

Crossdressing is a crime under Syariah law for Muslims and the penalties are severe. But it wasn’t always so. How did Malaysia become so heavy-handed on the transsexual community?

A religious scholar, a physician who conducted sex change surgeries, a sociologist, three attorneys and an outreach worker explain how it all came to be.

Screenings will be held at the following venues on the following dates:

Fri 29 Aug to Sun 31 Aug

The Annexe Gallery’s inaugural three-day series of forums, workshops, storytelling sessions and film screenings devoted to the theme of sexuality rights in Malaysia.

Seksualiti Merdeka will take place on 29, 30 & 31 August in conjunction with our Merdeka celebrations to address the fact that 51 years after independence, not all Malaysians are free to be who they are. Many of us are proud productive citizens of the country, yet we live double lives, pretending to be somebody we are not; fearful we may lose our jobs, our families, our lives, the moment someone finds out who we truly love. It is time to ask, why this has to be. Cause, as the song says, if one of us ain’t free, none of us are free.

Seksualiti Merdeka will be held in conjunction with ART FOR GRABS, the popular Annexe art bazaar, as well as INVENTING MALAYSIA, an exhibition, series of lectures and screenings of pre-Merdeka films shot in Malaya by foreigners, curated by Dr Farish A Noor and TheOtherMalaysia.

FRI 29 AUG

Seksualiti Merdeka Opening Event
8pm - 10.30pm: Film: “Comolot” by Mohd Ikram Ismail, “Pangyau” by Amir Muhammad and “Arisan” by Nia Dinata. (Gallery 1, 2nd Floor)

SAT 30 AUG

12pm - 2pm: Forum: To Live Without Fear – Dealing with violence against transsexuals (Gallery 4, 1st Floor)
3pm - 5pm: Forum: Probing Sexualities – Recent research into sexual diversity in Malaysia (Gallery 4, 1st Floor)
6pm - 7.30pm: Lecture: Psychology of Homophobia – Find out if you fit the profile (Gallery 4, 1st Floor)
8.30pm - 10.30pm: Storytelling: Heartbreakers Anonymous – Featuring Jit Murad, Dara (of Air-Con) and others (Gallery 1, 2nd Floor)

SUN 31 AUG

12pm - 2pm: Lecture: From Panji To The Present – A short history of sexuality in Malaysia and South East Asia by Dr Farish A Noor (Gallery 5, 1st Floor)
3pm - 5pm: Workshop: Tongues Out – Borak-borak on our sexuality landscapes (Gallery 4, 1st Floor)
6pm - 7pm: Malaysian Artists For Diversity with Ning Baizura, Ida Nerina and more. If you are a Malaysian artist(e) and would like to voice your support or dedicate a song to the community, please contact us! (Gallery 1, 2nd Floor)

FREE ADMISSION TO ALL EVENTS!

PLEASE INVITE FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES WHO ARE SUPPORTIVE. MERDEKA! MERDEKA! MERDEKA!

Contact: pang@annexegallery.com