nicky_bitchy

Watching the VP debates tonight, i knew i was in for a good show. I mean with all the comments surrounding Palin, it was like getting a free ticket to a $100 comedy show. Palin was like this horrible DJ stuck with only three tracks.

1. McCain the Maverick
2. My energy Bill….
3. My experience as governor/soccer mom…

I mean I have to give the woman some credit for being a good public speaker, she had style but no substance. During the foreign policy segment which I know is SP weakest point but I mean she didn’t even try to tackle the question. She even said that she has five weeks of experience, I mean if you have five weeks of experience I don’t think you are ready to step in and try to fix the worst economical crisis the world has seen.

The witty comments you have seen are also conrtibuted by Ryan Smith.

 

 

Whew, finally some time to actually breathe; I am in dire need of a bubble bath. So now that I do have some time I suppose I should response to some of the comments that were posted on my facebook.

 

About that naked running man…

 

Well about three weeks ago, my god that is how long I have been busy for, I went up to up state NY in the Easton Mountain for the Gay Men’s Health Movement retreat and I was introduced to be part of this retreat by Chris who is a professional activist here in Philly, O…M…..G…., I know, hold that gasp, A PROFESSIONAL ACTIVIST?!?! As in he does it for a living??!?! What living!??! You can only imagine the type of response you will get if you announce that to your parents as a future job choice, they probably think you were joining Cirque du Soleli or something. So anyways the whole thing is sponsored so I figure hell why not, who am I to refuse a free trip to the mountains, apparently over here they actually like the fact that your doing community work, unlike a certain unappreciative island that I come from whose clubs I can’t even get free entry into. *angry bitter activist side coming out*

 

So I am there with all these other people that do non-profit work, another dirty Singaporean word, for a living, discussing how to shift the focus of the gay men’s health movement from being so HIV centric so as to broaden our scope to encompass all the issues surrounding health. By the way, what does it mean to be healthy? As a gay man, what is your idea of being healthy?

 

So after lunch, which was all organic and healthy, one of the guys asked me if I would like to go for a run. Me being sporty spice replied yeah sure. He then replied in a somewhat joking manner that since we are in the mountains we can even go running naked. Ha ha……ha….. right?

 

So I go back to my room, change into my running gear and met him at the bottom of the steps, with his running shoes. Just his running shoes. HOLYMOTHER!@%#^&. Of course that was all in my head. Seems like as much of a liberal as I pride myself to be, I still have not shaken off some of my inhibitions. So there we were two guys running uphill in the forest, dangling balls and all and after a while when I got over the initial shock and blush we began to talk and as the conversation progressed it seemed like the most natural thing to be naked.

 

I mean at one point I almost wanted to strip myself, but it was kind of chilly and there were bugs around that might harm my delicate skin. * At this point Nicholas pauses with 6 inch heel in hand to see if anyone might make some wise ass crack* However, after we returned to the lodge, I decided what the heck and proceeded to go downstairs to go skinny dipping in the hot tub. After the tub bubbled around my parts and I watched the setting sun, I felt strangely comfortable and liberated. I mean, maybe part of being healthy is also about being comfortable in your own skin. Sort of like self acceptance and the willing to allow others to see you. Of course I was alone at that time but shortly after some of the other members also joined me for a soak and……… that is another story. J

http://www.queerty.com/homeland-security-not-lifting-hiv-travel-ban-20080930/#comments

I wonder if singapore has the same law, and where would they get this information?

Another question that comes into mind is that is the NHS doing this to protect people because of the possible spread of the virus from tourist? If so, what is the response to this?


President Bush and Congress this summer voted to repeal a ban on HIV-positive travelers.

The move was hailed as a huge success by activists on both sides of the political divide, particularly within gay communities.

Such celebrations, however, were premature, because the Department of Homeland Security announced yesterday that it is "streamlining" the process, but will not be lifting the ban entirely.

From an Immigration Equality press release:


[The DHS says] it will issue regulations which purport to “streamline” the waiver application process for HIV-positive short-term visitors. The move comes nearly two years after President Bush directed the agency to streamline the process and fails to follow Congress’ mandate to end the ban.

"The timing of these regulations is deeply troubling," said Victoria Neilson, Legal Director of Immigration Equality. "In July, Congress issued a bipartisan message to this Administration – remove HIV as a barrier to travel and immigration. Instead of simply ending the HIV travel ban, the administration is again treating HIV differently from any other medical condition."
…
Regulatory change is needed to completely lift the ban; meanwhile, the HIV travel ban continues to be enforced. The regulations issued yesterday do not end the ban.
Maybe the DHS thinks HIV-positive people are terrorists, or something…

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20081001/us_time/whyarentamericansbuyingthebailout

By AMANDA RIPLEY
42 minutes ago



The $700 billion financial bailout package failed because most Americans wanted it to fail. Before the vote, members of Congress were getting calls 100 to 1 against the bill. The question is: why? It's easy to understand that bailing out rich bankers doesn't feel super, but why, despite all the efforts of all the country's leaders to fill citizens with fear of an economic apocalypse, did they not see a failure to act as a serious threat to their livelihoods?



Traditionally, human beings are not great at assessing this kind of risk - a peril that has not yet arrived and that is, in any case, hard to viscerally imagine. Witness people's reluctance to evacuate before hurricanes, and weather forecasts portend a danger far easier to comprehend than failing investment banks.


But there are methods of communicating risk in a way that stills the heart, with words that inject dread into the populace. And Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and President George W. Bush used none of them. "The case wasn't made as to why the little guy needs this," says Paul Slovic, author of The Perception of Risk and a psychology professor at the University of Oregon. "The numbers and vague warnings are too abstract."

More at...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20081001/us_time/whyarentamericansbuyingthebailout

You are never truly dead until you are forgotten. May we carry on his spirit.

I seriously do not know what to make of this man who is so blinded by his faith. How can religion get involved in politics. It is overstepping the law saying that biblical law is better and thus that should rule the country. Wasn't slavery a good enough example?

( Not Work Safe )

For everyone who has ever had an appraisal - just remember, it could have been worse.



These are actual quotes taken from National Government employee performance evaluations:

1. 'Since my last report, this employee has reached rock-bottom and has started to dig.'

2. 'I would not allow this employee to breed.'

3. 'This employee is really not so much of a has-been, but more of a definite won't be.'

4. 'Works well when under constant supervision and cornered like a rat in a trap.'

5. 'When he opens his mouth, it seems that it is only to change feet.'

6. 'This young lady has delusions of adequacy.'

7. 'He sets low personal standards and then consistently fails to achieve them.'

8. 'This employee is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot.'

9. 'This employee should go far, and the sooner he starts the better.'

10. 'Got a full 6-pack, but lacks the plastic thingy to hold it all together.'

11. 'A gross ignoramus - 144 times worse than an ordinary ignoramus.'

12. 'He doesn't have ulcers, but he's a carrier.'

13. 'I would like to go hunting with him sometime.'

14. 'He's been working with glue too much.'

15. 'He would argue with a signpost.'

16. 'He brings a lot of joy whenever he leaves the room.'

17. 'When his IQ reaches 50, he should sell.'

18.. 'If you see two people talking and one looks bored, he's the other one.'

19. 'A photographic memory but with the lens cover glued on.'

20. 'A prime candidate for natural de-selection.'

21. 'Donated his brain to science before he was done using it.'

22. 'Gates are down, the lights are flashing, but the train isn't coming.'

23. 'He's got two brains cells, one is lost and the other is out looking for it.'

24. 'If he were any more stupid, he'd have to be watered twice a week.'

25. 'If you give him a penny for his thoughts, you'd get change.'

26.. 'If you stand close enough to him, you can hear the ocean.'

27. 'It's hard to believe he beat out 1,000,000 other sperm.'

28. 'One neuron short of a synapse.'

29. 'Some drink from the fountain of knowledge; he only gargled.'

30. 'Takes him 2 hours to watch 60-minutes.'

31. 'The wheel is turning, but the hamster is dead.

I heard rumors about these guys but have never actucally seen them, anyone want to confirm the reportings?

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,177507,00.html?
>
> 'They make place look so sleazy'
> Shop owners upset with China boys offering uncles special
> massages even in broad daylight
> By Hedy Khoo
> September 22, 2008
>
> Photo: THEY can pass off as male models.
>
> Men who are part of the group which hangs around outside
> Lucky Chinatown offering massage services to men.
>
> Clean-cut, good-looking, toned bodies in tight-fitting
> T-shirts, and they sport trendy hairstyles.
>
> But their runway is the pavements around Lucky Chinatown
> shopping centre.
>
> It is there that these Chinese nationals, in their mid-20s,
> tout massage services to male passers-by.
>
> They show up daily as early as 11am till about 8pm,
> loitering around the entrance or at the fast-food centre
> there, shop owners pointed out.
>
> The moment the deal is agreed, they would offer to take the
> customer to either a rented room nearby or check into a
> hotel.
>
> Shop owners in the area say they have noticed the presence
> of these young men since late last year. They are unhappy
> that nothing has been done to stop these 'masseurs'.
>
> One shop owner, who did not want to be named, said the
> presence of the young men made him uncomfortable.
>
> 'Some of them even wait inside the building. I avoid
> going to the toilet unnecessarily, because whenever I walk
> past them, they would smile at me in a suggestive
> manner,' he said.
> Click to see larger image
> ALARMED: This man left his seat when alerted by others who
> shouted to him to run away when they realised they were
> being photographed. He later scolded The New Paper on Sunday
> photojournalist.
>
> 'The people who work here know what these young men are
> here for.
>
> 'They are spoiling the image of this area, making it
> look so sleazy even during the day.'
>
> Some workers in the area were also disturbed by how the men
> would blatantly solicit for business from passers-by in the
> area.
>
> One of them was so upset that he called The New Paper
> Hotline.
>
> Mr Mogan, a shipping consultant who works in the area, said
> he was approached by one of the men.
>
> 'I notice they smile at middle-aged men walking past.
> One of them even approached me and said, 'Massage,
> massage, $200'.'
>
> Mr Mogan, who is in his 40s, claimed that he also heard
> them saying that to other men.
>
> 'I feel very uncomfortable every time I walk by because
> I can feel them staring at me,' he added.
> Click to see larger image
>
> 'This is a tourist area. They shouldn't be
> soliciting here. It spoils the image of our city,' he
> said.
>
> The men are apparently fly-by-night operators who come to
> Singapore on social visit passes to try to solicit men for
> massage and 'special services'. Many would disappear
> after a couple of weeks.
>
> However, shop owners said that the men have started to
> reappear in greater numbers since July.
>
> One shop assistant at the shopping centre said: 'At the
> start of this year, there were only one to three of them.
> Then in July, their numbers swelled to 10.
>
> 'I'm not sure if they all belong to the same group,
> but they seem to know one another.'
>
> A shop assistant, who wanted to be known only as Miss Pui,
> 24, has been working in the building for three months. She
> said: 'They hang around outside our shop at the lift
> lobby area or outside the entrance.
>
> 'I've seen them approach middle-aged women
> occasionally, but most of the time, it's middle-aged men
> or even the Ah Peks.'
>
> Miss Pui said that, at times, they would even enter her
> shop to ask for help.
>
> 'They would show me their SMS messages on their
> handphones, which is usually an address in English, and ask
> me how to read it and where the location is. They would say
> they don't understand English,' she said.
>
> Miss Pui said she was unfazed by the presence of the men.
>
> 'Opposite at People's Park where I used to work,
> there were quite a number of China women offering special
> services. Over here, it's China men.
>
> 'They don't interfere with our business, we
> don't interfere with theirs.'
>
> But Miss Pui revealed that upstairs on the second storey,
> there were also two nail parlours run by women which
> apparently catered only to men.
>
> 'Some of my male friends have been frightened off
> because they were approached by the men when they entered
> the building.
>
> 'Then when they went upstairs, they were approached by
> the nail parlour girls for massages and 'special
> services'.'
>
> At least one shop owner on the second floor was upset with
> the goings-on in and outside the building.
>
> She declined to be named, but said she was considering
> moving out.
>
> 'There are too many strange characters around here...
> and it makes the area look seedy.
>
> 'It affects my business because my female customers
> feel uncomfortable. Several have complained to me that their
> husbands were shocked when approached by the young men for
> massages and extra services.'
>
> Increased security patrols
>
> A spokesman for Lucky Chinatown said it takes 'a very
> serious view of the situation'.
>
> 'We have been in close touch with the police.
>
> 'On our part, we have already increased security
> patrols and, going forward, we are also increasing the
> security manpower.'
>
> A police spokesman said they are aware of the situation in
> and around the Lucky Chinatown area, and conduct regular
> enforcement operations in the area.
>
> Prostitution is not an offence under Singapore's laws.
> But soliciting is an offence under the Miscellaneous
> Offences Act.
>
> Under Section 19 of the Miscellaneous Offence (Public Order
> and Nuisance) Act, any person who persistently loiters or
> solicits for the purpose of prostitution in a public place
> can, if found guilty, be fined up to $1,000.
>
> Subsequent offences mean a fine of up to $2,000 or jail
> time of up to six months or both.
>
> The police spokesman said that many countries adopt a
> similar approach.
>
> They are flirty , physical and persistent
>
> A MALE journalist from The New Paper on Sunday posed as a
> passerby to find out first-hand if the young men outside
> Lucky Chinatown were indeed touting special services, and
> how they did it.
>
> His verdict: They were flirtatious, physical and pesky. And
> they did not take no for an answer, persisting in their
> offers for a pricey massage.
>
> When our team visited the building on Wednesday at about
> 5pm, there were two or three of the young men hanging around
> the entrance.
>
> Shortly after 6pm, another 10 arrived in a group.
>
> They split up into groups of two or three, or stood around
> on their own.
>
> They did not pay attention to women but would smile at men
> walking past and try to approach them, including The New
> Paper on Sunday's journalist.
>
> He had barely stepped out of the fast-food restaurant near
> the building entrance when he was approached by one of the
> men, who appeared to be in his mid-20s.
>
> The man smiled and asked politely in Mandarin: 'Do you
> want a massage?'
>
> When asked if there were any other services besides a
> massage, the man replied: 'Any service that you want is
> all included at $180 for about an hour.'
>
> 'First customer'
>
> The soft-spoken man, who was carrying a satchel, introduced
> himself as Sam and said he was from Shanghai.
>
> He also said: 'Lao xiong (brother, in Mandarin), please
> give me a chance. It's my first time here, and you will
> be my first customer.'
>
> He even gave assurances that it was safe and that they
> could go to a room he rented nearby for the services.
>
> But when told of the worry of being caught, the man said
> they could go to a nearby hotel but the room charges were
> not included in his fee.
>
> The man lowered his offer to $150, and again to $130 when
> his advances were rejected.
>
> He was bent on cutting a deal and refused to back down.
>
> As the journalist started to walk away, the man
> wouldn't give up.
>
> He followed him and tugged at his shirt sleeve.
>
> He let go after about 50m, when the journalist stopped
> talking to him.
>
> Even then, the man called after him loudly: 'Lao xiong,
> lao xiong...'
>

Brad Pitt, the liberal lion of Hollywood, has donated a cool $100,000 to fight anti-gay Prop. 8. "No one has the right to deny another their life, even though they disagree with it, because everyone has the right to live the life they so desire if it doesn't harm another and because discrimination has no place in America, my vote will be for equality and against Proposition 8," Pitt said in a statement. Pitt is one of our truly great movie stars/philanthropist. Leave him some love in the comments. Thanks Brad!

http://www.queerty.com/brad-pitt-is-my-hero-20080918/#comments

http://www.asiaone.com/News/The%2BNew%2BPaper/Story/A1Story20080917-88335.html

Benson Ang
Wed, Sep 17, 2008
The New Paper

Hold exit interviews for quitters?

Should the Govt hold exit interviews for Singaporeans who renounce their citizenship?

Or should it just quietly respect their decision, since they have made up their minds to leave?

This was raised yesterday in Parliament by Mr Lim Biow Chuan, MP for Marine Parade GRC, who suggested that the Government consider conducting exit interviews for Singaporeans intending to emigrate to find out why they want to do so.

Mr Lim, 45, who has friends who are planning to migrate, said: 'I wanted to know in principle whether the Government cares why people are leaving the country... What can they do to make these people reconsider?'

Companies have exit interviews to find out why employees are leaving and to gather feedback to improve the working environment for existing employees.

Mr Lim said: 'An exit interview can provide a good feel of the reasons why some Singaporeans decide to renounce their citizenship. They are likely to be more honest about their gripes with living in Singapore.'

He said that an exit interview may help the Government find out which specific policies that people are unhappy with. It might also help them identify policies which they may wish to refine.

The Government's answer, delivered by Senior Minister of State Ho Peng Kee, is that it does ask why people want to renounce their citizenship. (See report at right.)

Mr Lim said he was 'reasonably satisfied' with this answer, adding: 'I don't have any concrete suggestions right now, but I just wish we could do more to encourage people not to renounce their citizenship.'

Most Singaporeans interviewed by The New Paper felt exit interviews would not help to find out why people choose to emigrate.

Unlike career switch

A human resources director, 41, who did not want to be named, said: 'Leaving a country permanently is a very different decision compared to changing careers or switching to another company.

'In a corporate situation, we can try to accommodate them, such as giving them more suitable working hours or putting them in a different department.'

'But people leaving the country would have already made up their minds, so there is no way to retain them.'

Mr Daryl See, a polytechnic lecturer in his 50s, said it might be difficult to interview people who want to leave.

He said: 'The decision to emigrate is a long-term one. Usually, a person only decides to renounce citizenship after living in another country. So it's difficult to interview them.'

Other Singaporeans criticised Mr Lim's proposal as taking the wrong approach to the issue of emigration.

Political observer and businessman Zulkifli Baharudin, 48, said: 'If people have made up their minds, let them be. I'm not going to try to convince them to stay.'

He said exit interviews would not help uncover the gripes of Singaporeans because 'they will just give a politically correct answer'.

'They probably will have discussed the real reasons with their friends and family. Those reasons are not something you can get from an interview.'

For Mr Baharudin, the battle is already lost once a Singaporean decides to renounce his or her citizenship.

'People shouldn't even think about leaving. You take Singapore for what it is. If you are unhappy with something, then stay and find a way to fix it.

'If you start rationalising and negotiating your loyalty, then I think the country will have no future,' he said.

'Citizenship is a privilege, and it should be treated with honour.'

This article was first published in The New Paper on September 17, 2008

Breast Cancer

The Breast Cancer site is having trouble getting enough people to click on their site daily to meet their quota of donating at least one free mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman.

It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on 'donating a mammogram' -- for free (pink window in the middle). This does not cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate a mammogram in exchange for advertising.

Here's the web site! Please pass it along to people you know.

http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/smooth-start-for-big-bang-machine-924755.html

A flawless start to the "Big Bang" experiment that will re-enact the first moments of the universe was hailed as a triumph by British scientists involved in the project today.

( Read more )

I am outraged that we are still going over the same questions over and over again, IT IS NOT A LIFESTYLE!!! Urgh, we need some sort of campaign to drive this message across to shut people like Anton up or to stop him from swaying the middle majority. ]

"Soon gays will claim the right for social acceptance in all areas including education, welfare et cetera."

So what? Gay people don't get social acceptance and welfare?

We see that the opposition is become much more vocal in their responses, time for more of us to speak up. Send letters to the editors! Express your views, it does not have to be flowery language but just something that is honest.

"If anyone disagrees with the law for gays as enacted by Parliament, he/she is at perfect liberty to campaign to have it amended ... But until Parliament amends or repeals the law of Singapore for gays, it remains the law of Singapore."

Stand up and be counted.


What’s next? Same sex marriages?
:


Letter from Anton Chan


.
MR HO Kwon Ping is wrong to propose the acceptance of gays into Singapore society because accepting a gay lifestyle would have a tremendous impact on society as a whole in terms of religious beliefs, social well-being and families.
.
As a Christian, I oppose legalising a gay lifestyle in Singapore because it’s against my beliefs. As a father of three teenagers, I care because I don’t want my children to be affected by such a lifestyle.
.
Imagine if we allow the acceptance of such a lifestyle in Singapore. What next? Legalise same sex marriages? Legalise adoption of children for gays?
.
Where are we as a socially-conservative society heading towards?
.
Soon gays will claim the right for social acceptance in all areas including education, welfare et cetera. What effect will this have on the next generation of children and parents who wish that their children will grow up normally and produce children in the normal course of their being?
.
The only strong contention in Mr Ho’s proposal is the so-called gay leading edge in the “creative class”. Doesn’t our society have many other people to develop and nurture? Why are we so eager to promote creative class talent in Singapore? So that we can become a more tolerant society to accept whatever lifestyle these bring? Definitely no.
.
I would like to borrow a similar argument by Attorney-General Walter Woon regarding the Human Organ Transplant Act (Hota). In “None above the law” (Sept 8), he said: “If Dr Lee (Wei Ling) disagrees with Hota, she is at perfect liberty to campaign to have it amended ... But until Parliament amends or repeals the Hota and the Oaths and Declarations Act, they remain the law of Singapore.”
.
If anyone disagrees with the law for gays as enacted by Parliament, he/she is at perfect liberty to campaign to have it amended ... But until Parliament amends or repeals the law of Singapore for gays, it remains the law of Singapore.

:


Letter from Anton Chan


.
MR HO Kwon Ping is wrong to propose the acceptance of gays into Singapore society because accepting a gay lifestyle would have a tremendous impact on society as a whole in terms of religious beliefs, social well-being and families.
.
As a Christian, I oppose legalising a gay lifestyle in Singapore because it’s against my beliefs. As a father of three teenagers, I care because I don’t want my children to be affected by such a lifestyle.
.
Imagine if we allow the acceptance of such a lifestyle in Singapore. What next? Legalise same sex marriages? Legalise adoption of children for gays?
.
Where are we as a socially-conservative society heading towards?
.
Soon gays will claim the right for social acceptance in all areas including education, welfare et cetera. What effect will this have on the next generation of children and parents who wish that their children will grow up normally and produce children in the normal course of their being?
.
The only strong contention in Mr Ho’s proposal is the so-called gay leading edge in the “creative class”. Doesn’t our society have many other people to develop and nurture? Why are we so eager to promote creative class talent in Singapore? So that we can become a more tolerant society to accept whatever lifestyle these bring? Definitely no.
.
I would like to borrow a similar argument by Attorney-General Walter Woon regarding the Human Organ Transplant Act (Hota). In “None above the law” (Sept 8), he said: “If Dr Lee (Wei Ling) disagrees with Hota, she is at perfect liberty to campaign to have it amended ... But until Parliament amends or repeals the Hota and the Oaths and Declarations Act, they remain the law of Singapore.”
.
If anyone disagrees with the law for gays as enacted by Parliament, he/she is at perfect liberty to campaign to have it amended ... But until Parliament amends or repeals the law of Singapore for gays, it remains the law of Singapore.
:


Letter from Anton Chan


.
MR HO Kwon Ping is wrong to propose the acceptance of gays into Singapore society because accepting a gay lifestyle would have a tremendous impact on society as a whole in terms of religious beliefs, social well-being and families.
.
As a Christian, I oppose legalising a gay lifestyle in Singapore because it’s against my beliefs. As a father of three teenagers, I care because I don’t want my children to be affected by such a lifestyle.
.
Imagine if we allow the acceptance of such a lifestyle in Singapore. What next? Legalise same sex marriages? Legalise adoption of children for gays?
.
Where are we as a socially-conservative society heading towards?
.
Soon gays will claim the right for social acceptance in all areas including education, welfare et cetera. What effect will this have on the next generation of children and parents who wish that their children will grow up normally and produce children in the normal course of their being?
.
The only strong contention in Mr Ho’s proposal is the so-called gay leading edge in the “creative class”. Doesn’t our society have many other people to develop and nurture? Why are we so eager to promote creative class talent in Singapore? So that we can become a more tolerant society to accept whatever lifestyle these bring? Definitely no.
.
I would like to borrow a similar argument by Attorney-General Walter Woon regarding the Human Organ Transplant Act (Hota). In “None above the law” (Sept 8), he said: “If Dr Lee (Wei Ling) disagrees with Hota, she is at perfect liberty to campaign to have it amended ... But until Parliament amends or repeals the Hota and the Oaths and Declarations Act, they remain the law of Singapore.”
.
If anyone disagrees with the law for gays as enacted by Parliament, he/she is at perfect liberty to campaign to have it amended ... But until Parliament amends or repeals the law of Singapore for gays, it remains the law of Singapore.
:


Letter from Anton Chan


.
MR HO Kwon Ping is wrong to propose the acceptance of gays into Singapore society because accepting a gay lifestyle would have a tremendous impact on society as a whole in terms of religious beliefs, social well-being and families.
.
As a Christian, I oppose legalising a gay lifestyle in Singapore because it’s against my beliefs. As a father of three teenagers, I care because I don’t want my children to be affected by such a lifestyle.
.
Imagine if we allow the acceptance of such a lifestyle in Singapore. What next? Legalise same sex marriages? Legalise adoption of children for gays?
.
Where are we as a socially-conservative society heading towards?
.
Soon gays will claim the right for social acceptance in all areas including education, welfare et cetera. What effect will this have on the next generation of children and parents who wish that their children will grow up normally and produce children in the normal course of their being?
.
The only strong contention in Mr Ho’s proposal is the so-called gay leading edge in the “creative class”. Doesn’t our society have many other people to develop and nurture? Why are we so eager to promote creative class talent in Singapore? So that we can become a more tolerant society to accept whatever lifestyle these bring? Definitely no.
.
I would like to borrow a similar argument by Attorney-General Walter Woon regarding the Human Organ Transplant Act (Hota). In “None above the law” (Sept 8), he said: “If Dr Lee (Wei Ling) disagrees with Hota, she is at perfect liberty to campaign to have it amended ... But until Parliament amends or repeals the Hota and the Oaths and Declarations Act, they remain the law of Singapore.”
.
If anyone disagrees with the law for gays as enacted by Parliament, he/she is at perfect liberty to campaign to have it amended ... But until Parliament amends or repeals the law of Singapore for gays, it remains the law of Singapore.

This is opening a whole new level of visbility to a community that has been relatively insivible in sinagpore even among the gay community, I appluad the MOE's decision in taking a step to train its teachers but they need to pick their allies very carefully and make sure they are equipped with medically accurate information. Kudos to Leona who by far is the most visible trangerder person in singapore. Kumar does not count :P


Gender confused kids? Who's confused? I read with concern The New Paper's front-page article on MOE's ongoing efforts to train teachers to counsel gender-confused kids (TNP. 11 Sep 08).
My question is - do the counselling sessions aim to help the child find his/her true gender identity or influence transgender youth to conform to social norms?

It has long been established internationally that one's gender identity is distinct from one's sex at birth. When the two do not match, the individual experiences the medical condition known as "transsexualism". While I recognise that a sex change operation is not a one-size-fits-all solution for all transsexuals, it is certainly a "natural" and valid recourse for the majority of transsexuals, contrary to the sentiments expressed by Professor Tsoi. And contrary to what Ms Sarah S, a counsellor from NuLife Care and Counselling Services says, male to female transgender children do not necessarily behave the way they do because they lack a masculine father figure in their lives. Has she done a nationwide survey to substantiate her claims? Or is she commenting based on two to three individuals she hascounselled? A more important question in light of MOE's initiative - is she one of their trained counsellors?

I myself was a victim of the lack of support in my childhood years. There were lots of well-intentioned but misguided individuals - including a prominent leader of the religious group mentionned in your article - who tried to convince me that being transsexual was "wrong". This compounded my loneliness and sense of alienation, leading to a suicide attempt in my late teens. It was only when I fled to the United Kingdom for my studies in a more tolerant and welcoming environment that I flourished academically and socially.

I have remained in Singapore because I feel I still have lots to contribute to this beautiful society of ours - a society founded on secular, meritocratic principles and love and respect for racial and religious diversity. I hope MOE will adopt the same open-minded, enlightened approach when conducting its training sessions - and when selecting the service providers. Yours SincerelyLeona LoAuthor, From Leonard to Leona, A Singapore Transsexual's Journey toWomanhoodhttp://www.wo-manly.blogspot.com/ -----------

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Taught to spot problem when they're young Counsellors take courses to handle gender-confused kids WHILE his classmates were interested in playing soccer, 9-year-old John was more keen on being a mother-figure to them.

By Andre Yeo12 September 2008

WHILE his classmates were interested in playing soccer, 9-year-old John was more keen on being a mother-figure to them.

Cases like his are rare among primary school kids. But since last year, school counsellors have been taught to spot kids with gender identity problems early.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) has been conducting 'Managing gender identity issues' courses for full-time school counsellors (FTSCs) from primary school level onwards.

And last month, the MOE put out a tender on the government tender website, Gebiz, for the course's third run.

The course objectives include understanding gender identity disorder (GID), its causes, and how to deal with students with this condition.

Counsellors, up to tertiary level, would be taught the common misconceptions of GID, warning signs, what is transvestism and how to discuss the problem with parents and teachers.

John's case was seen by Dr Carol Balhetchet, director of youth services at the Singapore Children's Society, several years ago. The psychologist-counsellor with 18 years' experience said John was the youngest person she had seen with gender identity problems.

She said: 'He would say, 'I will let my male friends play, and I will clean up after them.'

'He was like a mother-figure to them and had very effeminate behaviour.'

She declined to reveal more on John's case and added there were not many children in primary school like him.

She said she was not aware MOE had been conducting this course and added that kids would start experimenting when they were in Primary 4 to 6.

Said Dr Balhetchet: 'That's when peer pressure becomes stronger than the family (influence). That's the time when counsellors in primary schools can help students before they become delinquents and start experimenting.'

Ms Sarah S, 26, a counsellor from NuLife Care and Counselling Services, said she had seen two primary school boys - one late last year, and one earlier this year - with gender identity issues. She said both liked to dress up, look in the mirror, and stay out of the sun. One of them even carries an umbrella wherever he goes.

She said: 'They are both from single-parent families and their fathers are absent. They do not have a male figure at home to be involved in masculine activities with. I think that's the main reason why they behave this way.'

In an e-mail reply, a spokesman for MOE told The New Paper gender identity was among the range of challenging issues which may confront some students in their adolescent years. The spokesman said gender identity referred to a person's own sense of identification as male or female beings.

She said: 'Those struggling with gender identity issues would feel that they are of one gender, but trapped in another gender's body. 'Learning how to manage students faced with gender identity issues is part of MOE's total training plan for school counsellors.'

She confirmed that the course was started last year, and was currently into its third run.

The MOE hopes that with this course, school counsellors would be better equipped to understand the emotional struggles students were going through when confronted with gender identity issues and identify the possible causes. Counsellors will also learn how to apply the right strategies to help students struggling with such issues. The two-day course, lasting 16 hours in total, is slated to begin from 30 Mar next year.

MOE, however, declined to reveal figures as to how many primary school children, if any, had approached counsellors for help concerning GID and if they were seeing a spike in these numbers. It also declined to elaborate on what some of the challenges students with GID faced in school. A counsellor in a primary school, who declined to be named, said she was informed of the course at the beginning of the year and has signed up for it. She said she has not come across any students with GID but felt having additional skills would help prepare her for such cases in future.

She said: 'All counsellors should know what's happening. We may be transferred to secondary schools in future. 'It's good to know the strategies, intervention skills and what causes certain children to have certain behaviours.' The principal of First Toa Payoh Primary School, Ms Rosalind Chia, said such a course would benefit her FTSC.

She said: 'If she has knowledge of gender confusion, it would benefit her if such cases arise. We have not come across such cases, so far.' Choices, the counselling division of the Church of Our Saviour, an Anglican church, helps people struggling with gender issues. They told The New Paper they could not comment for this story as they may be responding to MOE's tender for the course.

Regret An expert on GID, Dr Tsoi Wing Foo, 75, a psychiatrist in private practice, said he supported MOE's decision to have such a course as extra knowledge for counsellors was good.

Dr Tsoi, co-author of Cries From Within, a medical book on transsexuals, has been seeing patients with gender identity issues since 1971. He was unaware MOE was conducting such a course.

Said Dr Tsoi: 'They probably want to stop this condition from developing among primary school kids. It's not surprising they are doing this because they may think they can prevent this condition by counselling when they are young.'

He added he has never seen a patient from primary school. The youngest was 17 years old. Dr Tsoi added it was difficult to explain why people suffered from this condition.

He said: 'They just feel uncomfortable being who they are.' He said those who wanted to go for sex change operations would be sent to him by their surgeons for an evaluation to see if they were ready for it.

But Dr Tsoi said he would often try to convince patients not to go for such operations. He said: 'It's not a natural thing. They have to understand the implications. If they do it on impulse, some of them may regret it because they can't adjust to a new life.'

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