This educational video campaign is to raise awareness regarding the transgender community in Malaysia in hopes to foster understanding as well as promote tolerance and acceptance and subsequently bridge the gap between the transgender community and the general populace.

Join the effort at:
Website: http://mytransally.weebly.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamyou.campaign
Twitter: @mytransally
Instagram: mytransally

PRI’s the World’s talks about the Malaysian anti gay camp where effeminate young boys are encouraged to enroll in masculinity training camp as a premptive attempt to prevent them from growing up gay or transexual.

66 13-17 year old boys are currently engaged in such a camp right now. These kids were picked by their teachers based on their effeminate behavior.

These masculinity training camps are not new to Malaysia. The camps have always existed especially in higher education institutions. Gay activists in Malaysia are now afraid of the impact on the psychology of the children since the authorities are targeting a younger age group.

Whole article along with the mp3 file:

http://www.theworld.org/2011/04/malaysias-anti-gay-camp/

Frankly I am flabbergasted especially by the purported article written by a psychologist blaming effeminate behavior on parents who make boys do household chores meant for girls or dressing boys up in feminine clothing. Are Malaysian especially children not allowed to have any personalities anymore?
Everyone needs to come out of a heteronormal behavioral cast?

Are we seriously going to allow religious authorities or governmental entities to dictate personality and demeanor?

Shame on us.

Justice for Sisters is a grassroots campaign organized by concerned members of the public to raise public awareness about issues surrounding violence and persecution against the Mak Nyah community in Malaysia. The campaign also aims to raise funds amounting to RM60,000 to finance court cases that have been brought up against transgenders who have been charged in Syariah court.

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.

UPDATED: Audio interview with director Kelvin Wong.

I have worked with KLPAC’s publicist on their first Hokkien production for my other podcast PenangHokkien.com. Recently, Valerie informed me about this fascinating production at KLPAC that I thought would be nice to share with TiltedWord.org’s readers. Even though the characters of Octopus are mainly gay, the subjects are definitely beyond GLBT, and you can surely bring along your straight friends with you. I hope you’ll get to share your opinions of the production back here, after you see it.

Listen to the audio interview with Kelvin Wong, the director of Octopus.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Kuala Lumpur, December 2010 – The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac) proudly brings to you Octopus by American playwright Steve Yockey, tackling increasingly common relationship quandaries with an edge, yielding thought-provoking results. Octopus premiered in 2008 with the Actor’s Express Theatre Company in Atlanta, Georgia, and will play in Malaysia for the first time.

After young couple Kevin and Blake engage in an adventerous and hastily planned night of “fun” with the older, more “experienced” Max and Andy, they are left trying to salvage their relationship from a pummeling mix of jealousy, betrayal, telegrams from a soaking wet delivery boy and a ravenous sea monster from the ocean floor. Rendered through post-modern lens, Octopus slips from domestic comedy into a dark fable examining the role and depth of commitment in relationships and what it really means to say the words “I love you”.

Lauded as experimental and queer-friendly, Octopus challenges audience members to reinterpret their outlook on emotional and physical struggles through the realism of relationships: love, commitment, lust and fear. These universal themes strive to speak to all, regardless of sexual preference nor orientation.

This production of Octopus is directed by klpac’s Director-in-Residence, Kelvin Wong and will feature an eclectic cast of household names like Malik Taufiq and William Quah, alongside up-and-coming writer Nandang Abdul Rahman and newcomers Jack Lua and Edmund Wong. Octopus will also feature original music from singer-songwriter Elvira Arul. Strictly for mature audiences only.

Dates/Time: 16^th December (Thursday) to 22^nd December (Wednesday) @ 8.30 pm

Venue: Pentas 2, The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac)

Tickets: RM38 (Adults); RM25 (Students and the Disabled)

Promotions: Buy 1 ticket for Octopus and 1 ticket for Birdy (Pentas 2 @ 2^nd – 12^th December) for RM60!

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)

Online purchase/Location Map:  www.klpac.org

Others: Octopus will run for approximately 70 minutes without an intermission. Doors will open at 8.20 pm (10 minutes before the show). Strictly for mature audiences only (language, semi-nudity, nature of content).

Everyone deserves to be respected for who they are. I pledge to spread this message to my friends, family and neighbors. I’ll speak up against hate and intolerance whenever I see it, at school and at work. I’ll provide hope for lesbian, gay, bi, trans and other bullied teens by letting them know that “It Gets Better.”

That is the introductory paragraph that one is greeted by on the It Gets Better website. It is a pledge that all of us should take up and not only for the GLBT community but for those who are oppressed and discriminated against.

The most important step you should make, though, is to have self-respect.  You need to know that to accept yourself and love yourself as who you are and what you are is the first important big step to facing intolerance, bigotry or ignorance.  Overcoming other obstacles is easier when you know yourself worth.  People will know how real you are as a person regardless of your gender or sexual preference when you know this fact yourself.

I believe that is part of the message conveyed by our very own Gab  in her Its Get Better submission.

Please view and please be inspired to spread the message of love and tolerance.

Direct Link: Its Get Better by Yong Wei

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

Repurposed from an email sent to an active Malaysian mailing list.

=======
[snip]
Some friends and I got together to write a simple memo about some recent articles in tabloids like Kosmo! and papers like The Star and Berita Harian that demonise the queer community, specifically in the context of exposés on lesbian parties in town. These articles reflect a trend of stigmatization against queers in the mainstream press that encourages continued violence and discrimination against sexual minorities. We submitted said memorandum to SUHAKAM last week, and we’re looking to get 1000 signatures for our online petition by the end of the month.

You can sign that petition (text below this email) here:

“Memorandum on Ill Representation and Discrimination of the Queer Community in the Media | Memorandum berkenaan diskriminasi dan representasi yang mengaibkan komuniti LGBTIQ dalam media” :
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/kryss/

I hope you’ll sign and encourage other pals and allies to sign on too.

[snip]

Memorandum to Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
June 10, 2010

We refer to the articles published in Kosmo! (“Parti Lesbian Berleluasa”) and the Harian Metro (“Aksi Panas Pengkid, Lesbian”) dated 2nd and 16th May respectively.

We, the undersigned, are enraged by the usage of disparaging words such as “songsang” (deviant), “lucah” (lewd) and “jijik” (disgusting) in the newspaper reports to describe the queer community. The words used by Kosmo! and the Harian Metro and echoed by other newspapers (such as The Star, 3 May 2010) are heavily loaded with moral connotations and paint the queer community unjustifiably and unfairly as deviants and morally tainted.

These recent attacks were first and foremost attacks on sexual rights and, by extension, on human rights. The claim and exercise of these rights are integral to a person’s identity and self-worth and do not in any way contribute to general misconduct or a decline in moral values as wrongly implied by these journalists and newspapers. The continued stigma and discrimination perpetuated by the media towards the queer community (more pronounced since August 2003 when a memorandum was sent to Suhakam then) shows that Suhakam has done nothing to effectively uphold the human rights of the queer community as Malaysians of equal status.

These attacks were also a violation of privacy since these gatherings were by invitation only and exclusive to the queer community concerned.

Besides those two articles which were published recently in Harian Metro and Kosmo!, more than a dozen of articles have been published this year alone in local newspapers (please refer to attachment). These articles are reflective of an ongoing hostile trend by the media towards people of different sexual orientation and gender identity, in complete disregard for their human rights.

We strongly condemn journalists and newspapers who use unscrupulous tactics to obtain their stories and who further rely on sensationalism and titillation to sell their newspapers. We consider these journalists and newspapers unethical and unprofessional because they break the profession’s own standards of good reporting.

Both journalists and editors should be aware of the impact and consequences of how the news is reported especially when it comes to news about the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities where unethical and biased reporting only instigates hate and violence towards the queer community. Creating and encouraging an environment of hate and violence is criminal. As a result of such irresponsible reporting, private spaces are being invaded and violated, thus making it harder and harder for the queer community to enjoy their human rights just like other Malaysians.

In light of our urgent concerns, we repeat our call since 28 August 2003, and urge Suhakam:

First, to push for the protection of the human rights of individuals perceived or identified lesbians, bisexuals, gay, transsexual, transgendered, queer, under the Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Second, to pressure the government to repeal all laws that outlaw and criminalise mutually consensual sexual behaviour between adults.

Third, to further educate citizens on constitutional provisions for the protection of the human rights of citizens and non-citizens, and to further educate the public on the spirit and core values of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Yogyakarta Principles.

Fourth, to pressure the government to repeal all laws that restrict freedom of expression and freedom of information.

We hope that together, we will all be able to protect the democratic principles enshrined in the Malaysian Constitution, and strengthen the practice of a truly humane, participatory democracy in Malaysia.

The biggest LGBT rights rally in America since the commencement of Obama’s administration. Read more on CNN. Enjoy the photos!

Yours truly at the White House.

Say, Malaysians, when are you going to speak up?

Dust off those schedules, people, Seksualiti Merdeka is coming your way! The theme for the second year is “Our Bodies, Our Rights”.

Do we have the right to privacy? Do we have the right to our own bodies? Do we all deserve to be treated equally regardless of our sexuality?

Yes, yes and yes.

It should not matter if you are single, married or divorced, straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual, transvestite, intersexed or asexual, everyone has these rights. But are these rights recognised in Malaysia? Should they be? And what can we do about it?

This year, Seksualiti Merdeka calls for everyone to stand together to claim our rights.

Here’s a list of the events that will be happening, take a peek, it looks like a wonderful programme and I personally find that many of these promise to be very entertaining. This is a personal bias, but I want to attend everything under the “Arts” section! Bring your cameras if you do go, people, this will be good.

And I know this website caters to a largely queer audience, but please, bring your friends along; queer or otherwise.

SCHEDULE

Wed 12/8

8.30pm: Talkshow: ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

Thu 13/8

12pm: Documentary: CELLULOID CLOSET

2pm: Documentary: BUKAK API

4pm: Documentary: BEFORE STONEWALL

8.30pm: Theatre: THAT’S THE WAY I LIKE IT

8.30pm: Workshop: KAFE BISIKAN SEKS & SEKSUALITI

Fri 14/8

12pm: Documentary: SOUTHERN COMFORT

2pm: Documentary: PECAH LOBANG + SHE’S MY SON

4pm: Documentary: THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK

8.30pm: Theatre: THAT’S THE WAY I LIKE IT

8.30pm: Workshop: KAFE BISIKAN SEKS & SEKSUALITI

Sat 15/8

12pm: SEKSUALITI MERDEKA LAUNCH

2pm: Debate: MORAL POLICING – IS IT JUSTIFIED?

4pm: Book Launch: BODY 2 BODY: A MALAYSIAN QUEER ANTHOLOGY

6pm: Forum: THE LAW & OUR BODIES

8.30pm: Concert: RAINBOW MASSACRE

Sun 16/8

12pm: Tutorial: IT’S A QUEER WORLD – QUEER THEORY 101

12pm: Workshop: THE SEX TALK SHOW

2pm: Talk: Screwed – THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN MALAYSIA

2pm: Forum: WHO’S AFRAID OF SEX?

4pm: Talk: LEGALISING NATURE: HONG KONG, INDIA & SINGAPORE

4pm: Workshop: POLICE POWER

6pm: Discussion: STEP BY STEP

8.30pm: Concert: RAINBOW MASSACRE

+

FEATURES

SEKSUALITI MERDEKA LAUNCH

Officiated by Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir. Come celebrate our official launch and meet all the sweaty organisers and cute volunteers of Seksualiti Merdeka. The launch will also feature a song by V-Mix and a performance by young sexuality rights defenders. Refreshments sponsored by twenty.one kitchen+bar.

Sat 15 Aug, 12pm, Gallery 3

Debate: MORAL POLICING – IS IT JUSTIFIED?

Should we allow the State’s “moral police” to dictate how we should behave? This friendly debate revolves around the role of the State and “moral police” in legislating morality, religious convictions and public law. Debaters include representatives from the Bar Council Human Rights Committee and Centre for Independent Journalism – Fahri Azzat, Adiba Shareen Al’Ayubi, Khaizan Sharizad, Gayathry Venkiteswaran and Shanon Shah. It will be moderated by Simranjit Kaur Gill.

Sat 15 Aug, 2pm, Gallery 3

Book Launch: BODY 2 BODY: A MALAYSIAN QUEER ANTHOLOGY

The first of its kind in Malaysia, Body 2 Body: A Malaysian Queer Anthology features 23 original pieces of fiction and non-fiction in English selected by editors Jerome Kugan & Pang Khee Teik. There are cheers and tears, raunch and kink, polemics and politics: a versatile tribute to the rainbow diversity of Malaysia. The launch will have short readings by Shanon Shah, Cheryl Leong, Brian Gomez, Faizad Nik Abdul Aziz, Paul GnanaSelvam dan Maya Tan Abdullah. The book will available for purchase at RM30 each.

Sat 15 Aug, 4pm, Gallery 1

Forum: THE LAW & OUR BODIES

Do the laws that govern sexual practices and sexuality in our country protect our rights? Or do they infringe upon them? Panel speakers from the Bar Council Human Rights Committee including Saha Deva A/L A. Arunasalam, Simranjit Kaur Gill, Lim Kar Mern and Aston Philip Paiva take a close look at the law and discuss just how restrictive they really are.

Sat 15 Aug, 6pm, Gallery 1

+

ARTS

Art Installation: TEMBOK MERDEKA

A collective of artists will create an art installation inspired by the 29 Yogyakarta Principles, as well as two interactive walls upon which visitors can record their experiences of discrimination and acceptance. The installation will last throughout the festival. Strike a pose or become a part of the wall!

Talk Show: ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

With dance doyen Datin Marion D’Cruz, TV & Radio host Will Quah, actor Mano Maniam, transsexual writer Julya Oui, and Irene Leong, mother of a happily gay daughter. Sharing tales about their lives, passion and relationships, these straight and queer individuals will show how diversity, understanding and love are important foundations for a more accepting society.

Wed 12 Aug, 8.30pm, Gallery 3

Theatre: THAT’S THE WAY I LIKE IT – 3 SHORT PLAYS ABOUT SEXUALITY

In “XX, XY or X?”, Low Ngai Yuen directs Carmen Soo & KK Wong who play a brokenhearted and unfulfilled couple searching for answers from an X-rated video. Meanwhile, in “Bed”, directed by Kwan Chan Fong, a woman (Chin Lee Ling) and a man (Lim Chung Wei) confront the secret life of their dead housemate. Finally, one woman’s driving lessons take her down the road of sexual awakening in “Drive”, directed by Hariati Azizan, performed by Ruza Jajuli and Renita Che Wan. The plays contain mature themes. In English, Malay, Mandarin & Cantonese. Admission by donation: RM25 at the door; RM20 presale passes available at http://www.applause.org.my

Thu 13 & Fri 14 Aug, 8.30pm, Gallery 1

Music: RAINBOW MASSACRE

From “I Will Survive” to “YMCA” to “Bukan Cinta Biasa”, queer anthems teach us to dance, fight, and unleash our inner Dorothy – uniting us in a celebration of the outrageous, tragic, campy and bitchy. Rainbow Massacre presents two nights of queer anthems and comedy featuring some of KL’s best entertainers: Joanne Kam, Jit Murad, Mia Palencia, Shanon Shah, Zalina Lee, Fang Chyi, Maya Tan, Melvin Ho & Friends, with emcees Edwin Sumun & Fahmi Fadzil. Admission by donation RM30 adult; RM25 for students. Passes available at http://www.applause.org.my

Sat 15 & Sun 16 Aug, 8.30pm, Gallery 3

+

DOCUMENTARIES

Documentary: THE CELLULOID CLOSET

The Celluloid Closet (1995) is a documentary film about the the Hollywood film industry and its cast of LGBT characters both on- and off-screen, censorship and stereotypes.

Thu 13 Aug, 12pm, Gallery 1

Documentary: BUKAK API

The groundbreaking semi-documentary about the lives of transsexuals on Chow Kit Road, directed by Osman Ali.

Thu 13 Aug, 2pm, Gallery 1

Documentary: BEFORE STONEWALL

This historical documentary is about the LGBT community prior to the 1969 Stonewall riots.

Thu 13 Aug, 4pm, Gallery 1

Documentary: SOUTHERN COMFORT

Southern Comfort is an emotionally touching documentary about the last year in the life of Robert Eads, a 52-year-old female-to-male American transsexual who died of ovarian cancer.

Fri 14 Aug, 12pm, Gallery 1

Documentary: PECAH LOBANG + SHE’S MY SON

Two award-winning Malaysian documentaries (Freedom Film Fest) about two different transgender experiences: one from sex workers’ perspective and one from the mother of a transsexual.

Fri 14 Aug, 2pm, Gallery 1

Documentary: THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK

Before Milk, there was this documentary of the charismatic gay activist, who became the first openly homosexual person to be elected to public office in America. Featuring real footage of Harvey Milk and his friends.

Fri 14 Aug, 4pm, Gallery 1

+

EMPOWERMENT

(The following sessions require registration. Please email your name and the names of the session to: seksualitimerdeka2009@gmail.com)

Workshop: KAFE BISIKAN SEKS & SEKSUALITI

What is the difference between sex and sexuality? And why is sexuality such an issue for control, discrimination and persecution? This introductory workshop to sexuality and sexual rights is presented by KRYSS (Knowledge and Rights for Young people through Safer Spaces). Discuss your views and gain a better understanding of sexuality rights and how they relate to our human rights.

Thu 13 & Fri 14 Aug, 8.30pm, Gallery 3

Workshop: THE SEX TALK SHOW

Are you ready to add sizzle to your sex life? PT Foundation presents a talk show with a panel of sexperts on how to make sex safe, adventurous and fun. Additionally, in a separate private room, trained counselors are available to conduct anonymous HIV screenings with counseling.

Sun 16 Aug, 12pm, Gallery 3

Forum: WHO’S AFRAID OF SEX?

Do you think sex is dirty and shameful? Or beautiful and affirming? What influences your attitudes toward sex? What prevents you from having healthy sex? PT Foundation puts together a panel of experts to help you develop positive thinking about sex.

Sun 16 Aug, 2pm, Gallery 3

Workshop: POLICE POWER

Many of us have fantasies about uniformed hotties, but what happens when you’re actually confronted by the real thing? What to do when the cops stop you for holding hands, raid the disco you’re in or detain you for cross-dressing? SUARAM leads a practical workshop on what is the police’s power and what are your rights when you are stopped, fined, detained or harrassed by them.

Sun 16 Aug, 4pm, Gallery 3

+

ACTIVISM

(The following sessions require registration. Please email your name and the session names to: seksualitimerdeka2009@gmail.com)

Tutorial: IT’S A QUEER WORLD – QUEER THEORY 101

Benjamin McKay, Film Studies lecturer at Monash University Sunway campus, introduces us to the joys of Queer Theory; after all, there is no norm, everything and everyone is queer! With film clips from Francois Ozon, Amir Muhammad’s Susuk and Douglas Sirk’s Magnificent Obsession. Now, you too can apply Queer Theory in your daily life!

Sun 16 Aug, 12pm, Gallery 1

Talk: SCREWED – THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN MALAYSIA

Not only LGBT folks get bullied in Malaysia. SUARAM presents a crash-course into the overall human rights record of Malaysia, with an overview of the NGOs working in Malaysia. Know your basic human rights, learn about the abuses, and be outraged. Yes, we are all majorly screwed! Let’s all come together for a better future.

Sun 16 Aug, 2pm, Gallery 1

Talk: LEGALISING NATURE: HONG KONG, INDIA & SINGAPORE

Singapore gay equality activist Alex Au discusses recent court cases in Hong Kong and India regarding the repeal of the sodomy law. He also updates participants about the legal situation in Singapore and shares his thoughts about activist strategies for Malaysia.

Sun 16 Aug, 4pm, Gallery 1

Discussion: STEP BY STEP

Movies, massacres and moral policing? What does it all mean? This session is tailored for those who are all fired up and asking, “What next?” Find out how you can transform what you’ve learnt into meaningful action, and how your actions can translate into meaningful change.

Sun 16 Aug, 6pm, Gallery 1

Enquiries:

Please email seksualitimerdeka2009@gmail.com

Or call: 03 2070 1137

www.annexegallery.com

The Annexe Gallery, 2^nd Floor, Central Market Annexe, Kuala Lumpur.

You’re welcome to mail this to your friends, but please do not repost this on your blog or publicise this event in the media without permission from the organisers. If you are interested, please email: worldwithoutpangs@gmail.com.

For the full programme, and more information on the event, visit Seksualiti Merdeka: the official blog.

And just for old time’s sake, here we were, one year ago, painting the mural for Seksualiti Merdeka last year:

If you’re so inclined, view pictures from a day at Seksualiti Merdeka, 2008 (by Tilted World).

You should go for this — it’ll be the biggest all-inclusive, queer-friendly event in KL all year.

One last link: Facebook event page

This wonderful story on the social construction of gender is a MUST-READ for everyone.

A Fabulous Child’s Story

by Lois Gould

Once upon a time, a baby named X was born. This baby was named X so that nobody could tell whether it was a boy or a girl. Its parents could tell, of course, but they couldn’t tell anybody else. They couldn’t even tell Baby X at first.

You see, it was all part of a very important Secret Scientific Xperiment, known officially as Project Baby X. The smartest scientists had set up this Xperiment at a cost of Xactly 23 billion dollars and 72 cents, which might seem like a lot for just one baby, even a very important Xperimental baby. But when you remember the prices of things like strained carrots and stuffed bunnies, and popcorn for the movies and booster shots for camp, let alone 28 shiny quarters from the tooth fairy, you begin to see how it adds up.

Also, long before Baby X was born, all those scientists had to be paid to work out the details of the Xperiment, and to write the Official Instruction Manual for Baby X’s parents and, most important of all, to find the right set of parents to bring up Baby X. These parents had to be selected very carefully. Thousands of volunteers had to take thousands of tests and answer thousands of tricky questions. Almost everybody failed because, it turned out, almost everybody really wanted either a baby boy or a baby girl, and not Baby X at all. Also, almost everybody was afraid that a Baby X would be a lot more trouble than a boy or a girl. (They were probably right, the scientists admitted, but Baby X needed parents who wouldn’t mind the Xtra trouble.)

There were families with grandparents named Milton and Agatha, who didn’t see why the baby couldn’t be named Milton or Agatha instead of X, even if it was an X. There were families with aunts who insisted on knitting tiny dresses and uncles who insisted on sending tiny baseball mitts. Worst of all, these were families that already had other children who couldn’t be trusted to keep the secret. Certainly not if they knew the secret was worth 23 billion dollars and 72 cents – and all you had to do was take one little peek at Baby X in the bathtub to know if it was a boy or girl.

But, finally, the scientists found the Joneses, who really wanted to raise an X more than any other kind of baby – no matter how much trouble it would be. Ms. and Mr. Jones had to promise they would take equal turns caring for X, and feeding it, and singing it lullabies. And they had to promise never to hire any baby-sitters. The government scientists knew perfectly well that a baby-sitter would probably peek at X in the bathtub, too.

The day the Joneses brought their baby home, lots of friends and relatives came over to see it. None of them knew about the secret Xperiment, though. So the first thing they asked was what kind of a baby X was. When the Joneses smiled and said, “It’s an X,” nobody knew what to say. They couldn’t say, “Look at her cute little dimples!” And they couldn’t say, “Look at his husky little biceps!” And they couldn’t even say just plain “kitchycoo”. In fact, they all thought the Joneses were playing some kind of rude joke.

But of course, the Joneses were not joking. “It’s an X” was absolutely all they would say. And that made the friends and relatives very angry. The relatives all felt embarrassed about having an X in the family. “People will think there’s something wrong with it!” some of them whispered. “There is something wrong with it!” others whispered back.

“Nonsense!” the Joneses told them all cheerfully. “What could possibly be wrong with this perfectly adorable X?”

Nobody could answer that, except Baby X, who had just finished its bottle. Baby X’s answer was a loud, satisfied BURP!

Clearly, nothing at all was wrong. Nevertheless, none of the relatives felt comfortable about buying a present for a Baby X. The cousins who sent the baby a tiny football helmet would not come and visit anymore. And the neighbours who sent a pink-flowered romper suit pulled their shades down when the Joneses passed their house. The Official Instruction Manual had warned the new parents that this would happen, so they didn’t fret about it. Besides, they were too busy with Baby X and the hundreds of different Xercises for treating it properly.

Ms. and Mr. Jones had to be Xtra careful about how they played with little X. They knew that if they kept bouncing it up in the air and saying how strong and active it was, they’d be treating it more like a boy than an X. But if all they did was cuddle it and kiss it and tell it how sweet and dainty it was, they’d be treating it more like a girl than an X.

On page 1654 of the Official Instruction Manual, the scientists prescribed: “plenty of bouncing and plenty of cuddling, both, X ought to be strong and sweet and active. Forget about dainty altogether”.

Meanwhile, the Joneses were worrying about other problems. Toys, for instance, and clothes. On his first shopping trip, Mr. Jones told the store clerk, “I need some clothes and toys for my new baby”. The clerk smiled and said, “Well now, is it a. boy or a girl”

“It’s an X”, Mr Jones said, smiling back. But the clerk got all red in the face and said huffily, “In that case, I’m afraid I can’t help you, sir”.

So Mr Jones wandered helplessly up and down the aisles trying to find out what X needed. But everything in the store was piled up in sections marked “Boys” or “Girls”.

There were “Boy’s’ Pyjamas” and “Girls’ Underwear” and “Boys’ Fire Engines” and “Girl’s Housekeeping Sets”. Mr. Jones went home without buying anything for X. That night he and Ms. Jones consulted page 2326 of the Official Instruction Manual. “Buy plenty of everything”, it said firmly.

So they bought plenty of sturdy blue pyjamas in the Boys’ Department and cheerful flowered underwear in the Girls’ Department. And they bought all kinds of toys. A boy doll that made pee-pee and cried, “Pa-pa”. And a girl doll that talked in three languages and said “I am the Pres-i-dent of Gen-er-al Mo-tors”. They also bought a story-book about a brave princess who rescued a handsome prince from his ivory tower, and another one about a sister and brother who grew up to be a baseball star and a ballet star, and you had to guess which was which.

The head scientists of Project Baby X checked all their purchases and told them to keep up the good work. They also reminded the Joneses to see page 4629 of the Manual, where it said: “Never make Baby X feel embarrassed or ashamed about what it wants to play with. And if X gets dirty climbing rocks, never say “Nice little Xes don’t get dirty climbing rocks.”

Likewise, it said: “If X falls down and cries, never say, “Brave little Xes don’t cry”. Because of course, nice little Xes do get dirty, and brave little Xes do cry. No matter how dirty X gets, or how hard it cries, don’t worry. It’s all part of the Xperiment.”

Whenever the Joneses pushed Baby X’s stroller in the park, smiling strangers would come over and coo: “Is that a boy or a girl?” The Joneses would smile back and say, “It’s an X”. The strangers would stop smiling then, and often snarl something nasty – as if the Joneses had snarled at them.

By the time X grew big enough to play with other children, the Jones’ troubles had grown bigger too. Once a little girl grabbed X’s shovel in the sandbox and zonked X on the head with it.

“Now, now, Tracy”, the little girl’s mother began to scold, “little girls mustn’t hit little -” and she turned to ask X, “Are you a little boy or a little girl, dear?”

Mr. Jones, who was sitting near the sandbox, held his breath and crossed his fingers.

X smiled politely at the lady, even though X’s head had never been zonked so hard in all its life. “I’m a little X”, X replied.

“You’re a what ?” the lady exclaimed angrily. “You’re a little B.R.A.T., you mean”.

“But little girls mustn’t hit little Xes, either!” said X, retrieving the shovel with another polite smile. “What good does hitting do, anyway?”

X’s father, who was still holding his breath, finally let it out, uncrossed his fingers and grinned back at X.

And at their next secret Project Baby X meeting, the scientists grinned too. Baby X was doing fine.

But then it was time for X to start school. The Joneses were really worried about this, because school was even more full of rules for boys and girls and there were no rules for Xes. The teachers would tell boys to form one line, and girls to form another line. There would be boys’ games and girls’ games and boys’ secrets and girls’ secrets. The school library would have a list of recommended books for girls and a different list of recommended books for boys. There would even be a bathroom marked BOYS and another marked GIRLS. Pretty soon boys and girls would hardly talk to each other. What would happen to poor little X!

The Joneses spent weeks consulting their Instruction Manual (there were 246 and 1/2 pages of advice under “First Day at School”), and attending urgent special conferences with the smart scientists of Project Baby X.

The scientists had to make sure that X’s mother had taught X how to throw and catch a ball properly and that X’s father had been sure to teach X what to serve at a doll’s tea party. X had to know how to shoot marbles and how to jump rope, and most of all, what to say when the other children asked whether X was a boy or a girl.

Finally, X was ready.

The Joneses helped X button on a nice new pair of red-and-white checked overalls, and sharpened six pencils for X’s nice new pencil box and marked X’s name clearly on all the books in its nice new book bag. X brushed its teeth and combed its hair, which just about covered its ears and remembered to put a napkin in its lunchbox.

The Joneses had asked X’s teacher if the class could line up alphabetically, instead of forming separate lines for boys and girls. And they had asked if X could use the principal’s bathroom, because it wasn’t marked anything except “BATHROOM”. X’s teacher promised to take care of all those problems. But nobody could help X with the biggest problem of all – other children.

Nobody in X’s class had ever known an X before. What would they think? How would X make friends?

You couldn’t tell what X was by studying its clothes – overalls don’t even button right-to-l eft, like girls’ clothes or left-to-right, like boys’ clothes. And you couldn’t guess whether X lad a girls’ short haircut or a boy’s long haircut. And it was very hard to tell by the games X liked to play. Either X played ball very well for a girl, or else X played house very well for a boy.

Some of the children tried to find out by asking (tricky questions, like “Who’s your favourite sports star?” That was easy. X had two favourite sport stars: a girl jockey named Robyn Smith and a boy archery champion lamed Robin Hood. Then they asked, what’s your favourite television programme?” And hat was even easier. X’s favourite television programme was “lassie” which stars a girl dog played by a boy dog.

Then X said that its favourite toy was a doll, everyone decided that X must be a girl. But hen X said that the doll was really a robot, and that X had computerised it, and that it was programmed to bake fudge brownies and then clean up the kitchen. After X told them that, the Other Children gave up guessing what X was. All they knew was they’d sure like to see X’s doll.

After school, X wanted to play with the other children.

“How about shooting some baskets in the gym?” X asked all the girls. But all they did was make faces and giggle behind X’s back. “How about weaving some baskets in the arts and crafts room?” X asked the boys. But they all made faces and giggled behind X’s back, too.

That night, Ms. and Mr. Jones asked X how things had gone at school. X told them sadly that the lessons were okay, but otherwise school was a terrible place for an X. It seemed as if Other Children would never want an X for a friend.

Once more, the Joneses reached for their Instruction Manual. Under “Other Children”, they found the following message: “What did you Xpect? Other Children have to obey all the silly boy-girl rules, because their parents taught them to. Lucky X – you don’t have to stick to the rules at all! All you have to do is be yourself. We’re not saying if it be easy.”

X liked being itself. But X cried a lot that night, partly because it felt afraid. So X’s father held X tight and cuddled it and couldn’t help crying a little too. And X’s mother cheered them both up by reading an Xciting story about an enchanted prince called Sleeping Handsome, who woke up when Princess Charming kissed him.

The next morning, they all felt much better and little X went back to school with a brave smile and a clean pair of red-and-white checked overalls.

There was a seven-letter-word spelling bee in class that day. And a seven-lap boys’ relay race in the gym. And a seven-layer-cake baking contest in the girls’ kitchen corner. X won the spelling bee. X also won the relay race. And X almost won the baking contest, except it forgot to light the oven. Which only proves that nobody’s perfect.

One of the Other Children noticed something else, too. He said: “Winning or losing doesn’t seem to count to X. X seems to have fun being good at boys’ skills and girls’ skills”.

“Come to think of if, said another of the Other Children, “maybe X is having twice as much fun as we are.”

So after school that day, the girl who beat X at the baking contests gave X a big slice of her prizewinning cake. And the boy X beat in the relay race asked X to race him home.

From then on, some really funny things began to happen. Susie, who sat next to X in class, suddenly refused to wear pink dresses to school any more. She insisted on wearing red-and-white checked overalls – just like X’s overalls, she told her parents, were much better for climbing monkey bars.

Then Jim, the class football nut, started wheeling his little sister’s doll carriage around the football field. He’d put on his entire football uniform, except for the helmet. Then he put the helmet in the carriage, lovingly tucked under an old set of shoulder pads. Then he started jogging around the field, pushing the carriage and singing “Rock a bye Baby” to his football helmet. He told his family that X did the same thing, so it must be okay. After all, X was now the team’s star quarter-back.

Susie’s parents were horrified by her behaviour, and Jim’s parents were worried sick about his. But the worst came when the twins, Joe and Peggy, decided to share everything with each other. Peggy used Joe’s hockey skates, and his microscope, and took half his newspaper route. Joe used Peggy’s needlepoint kit, Peggy started running the lawn mower and Joe started running the vacuum cleaner.

Their parents weren’t one bit pleased with Peggy’s wonderful biology experiments, or with Joe’s terrific needlepoint pillows. They didn’t care that Peggy mowed the lawn better, and that Joe vacuumed the carpet better. In fact they were furious.

It’s all that little X’s fault, they agreed. Just because X doesn’t know what it is, or what it’s supposed to be, it wants to get everybody else mixed up, too! Peggy and Joe were forbidden to play with X anymore. So was Susie, and then Jim, and then all the Other Children. But it was too late; the Other Children stayed mixed up and happy and free, and refused to go back to the way they’d been before X.

Finally, Joe and Peggy’s parents decided to call an emergency meeting of the school’s Parents’ Association, to discuss “The X Problem”. They sent a report to the principal stating that X was a “disruptive influence”.

They demanded immediate action. The Joneses, they said, should be forced to tell whether X was a boy or a girl. And then X should be forced to behave like whichever it was. If the Joneses refused to tell, the Parents’ Association said, then X must take an Xaminiation. The school Psychiatrist must Xamine it physically and mentally and issue a full report. If X’s test showed it was a boy, it would have to obey all the boys’ rules. If it proved to be a girl, X would have to obey all the girls’ rules, and if X turned out to be some kind of mixed up misfit, then X should be Xpelled from the school. Immediately!

The Principal was very upset. Disruptive influence? Mixed-up misfit? But X was an Xcellent student. All the teachers said it was a delight to have X in their classes. X was President of the student council. X had won First prize in the talent show and second prize in the art show and honourable mention in the science fair and six athletic events on field day, including the potato race.

Nevertheless, insisted the Parents’ Association, X is a Problem Child. X is the Biggest Problem Child we have ever seen!

So the Principal reluctantly notified X’s parents that numerous complaints about X’s behaviour had come to the school’s attention. And that after the Psychiatrist’s Xaminiation, the school would decide what to do about X.

The Joneses reported this at once to the scientists, who referred them to page 85759 of the I nstruction Manual. “Sooner or later,” it said, “X will have to be Xamined by a Psychiatrist. This may be the only way any of us will know for sure whether X is mixed up or whether everyone else is”.

The night before X was to be Xamined, the Joneses tried not to let X see how worried they were.

“What if” Mr. Jones would say. And Ms. Jones would reply, “No use worrying”.

Then a few minutes later, Ms. Jones would say, “What if” and Mr. Jones would reply, “No use worrying”.

X just smiled at them both, and hugged them hard and didn’t say much of anything. X was thinking, What if? And then X thought: No use worrying.

At Xactly 9 o’clock the next day, X reported to the school Psychiatrist’s office. The Principal, along with a committee from the Parents’ Association, X’s teacher, X’s classmates and Ms. and Mr. Jones waited in the hall outside. Nobody knew the details of the tests X was to be given, but everybody knew they’d be very hard, and that they’d reveal Xactly what everyone wanted to know about X, but was afraid to ask.

It was terribly quiet in the hall. Almost spooky! Once in a while, they would hear a strange noise inside the room. There were buzzes. And a beep or two, and several bells. An occasional light would flash under the door. The Joneses thought it was a white light, but the Principal thought it was blue. Two or three children swore it was either yellow or green. And the Parents’ Committee missed it completely.

Through it all, you could hear the Psychiatrist’s low voice, asking hundreds of questions, and X’s higher voice, answering hundreds of answers. The whole thing took so long that everyone knew it must be the most complete Xaminiation anyone had ever had to take. Poor X, the Joneses thought Serves X right, the Parents’ Committee thought! Wouldn’t like to be in X’s overalls right now, the children thought.

At last, the door opened. Everyone crowded around to hear the results. X didn’t look any different; in fact, X was smiling. But the Psychiatrist looked terrible. He looked as if he was crying!

“What happened?” everyone began shouting. Had X done something disgraceful? “I wouldn’t be a bit surprised!” muttered Peggy and Joe’s parents.

“Did X flunk the whole test?” cried Susie’s parents. “Or just the most important part?” yelled Jim’s parents. “Oh, dear”, sighed Mr Jones. “Oh, dear”, sighed Ms. Jones. “Sssh”, sssshed the Principal. “The Psychiatrist is trying to speak”.

Wiping his eyes and clearing his throat, the psychiatrist began in a hoarse whisper.

“In my opinion”, he whispered – you could tell he must be very upset – “in my opinion, young X here -”

“Yes? Yes” shouted a parent impatiently. “Sssssh!” sssshed the Principal.

“Young Ssssshhh here, I mean, young X” said the doctor, frowning, “is just about … “. “Just about WHAT? Let’s have it!” shouted another parent. “Just about the least mixed-up child I’ve ever Xamined” said the Psychiatrist. “Yah for X,” yelled one of the children. And then the others began yelling, too. Clapping and cheering and jumping up and down. “SSSSSHH!” Ssshed the Principal, but nobody did.

The Parents’ Committee was angry and bewildered. How COULD X have passed the whole Xamination? Didn’t X have an identity problem? Wasn’t X mixed up at ALL? Wasn’t X any kind of misfit? How could it NOT be, when it didn’t even KNOW what it was? And why was the Psychiatrist crying?

Actually, he had stopped crying and was smiling politely through his tears. “Don’t you see?” he said, “I’m crying because it’s wonderful! X has absolutely no identity problem! X isn’t one bit mixed up! As for being a misfit – ridiculous! X knows perfectly well what it is! Don’t you, X? the doctor winked. X winked back.

“But what IS X?” Shrieked Peggy and Joe’s parents. “We still want to know what it is!” “Ah, yes”, said the doctor winking again. “Well, don’t worry. You’ll all know one of these days. And you won’t need me to tell you.” “What? What does he mean?” some of the parents grumbled suspiciously.

Susie and Peggy and Joe all answered all at once. “He means that by the time X’s sex matters, it won’t be a secret anymore!”

With that, the doctor began to push through the crowd towards X’s parents. “How do you do?” he said, somewhat stiffly. And then he reached out to hug them both. “If I ever have an X of my own,” he whispered, “I sure hope you’ll lend me your instruction manual”.

Needless to say, the Joneses were very happy. The Project Baby X scientists were rather pleased too. So were Susie, Jim, Peggy, Joe, and all the Other Children. The Parents’ Association wasn’t, but they had promised to accept the Psychiatrist’s report and not make any more trouble. They even invited Ms. and Mr. Jones to become honorary members, which they did.

Later that day, X’s friends put on their red-and-white-checked overalls and went over to see X. They found X in the back yard, playing with a very tiny baby that none of them had even seen before. The baby was wearing very tiny red-and-white-checked overalls.

“How do you like our new baby?” X asked the Other Children proudly. “It’s got cute dimples,” said Jim. “It’s got husky biceps, too”, said Susie. “What kind of baby is it?” asked Joe and Peggy.

X frowned at them. “Can’t you tell?” Then X broke into a big, mischievous grin, “It’s a Y!”