Singapore's gay community began its third annual pride festival Wednesday with renowned British actor Ian McKellen voicing his support for the event.
McKellen, who played the wizard Gandalf in the "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy, said the festival was a platform for the community to make its voice heard in tightly-governed Singapore.
Germany, Greece Hold Gay Rights Marches
Around 400,000 German gays and lesbians marched through Berlin on Saturday to protest against discrimination in the workplace and schools, but only about 1,000 people joined a similar
Advertisement
In a video message, McKellen said: "it's very important that gay people, wherever they are, should identify themselves, stick up for themselves, represent themselves, modestly and positively, so the rest of the world knows that we're here and we're not going to go away."
Known as Indignation, the festival is scheduled around Singapore's independence day on August 9 and will run from August 1-15.
Despite being one of Asia's most advanced societies, homosexuals acts are still outlawed in Singapore under laws dating back to British colonial days.
![Biggest Gay Pride Celebration in Toronto]( "Biggest Gay Pride Celebration in Toronto")
Toronto's 27th annual celebration climaxed Sunday with a vibrant Pride Parade.
McKellen described the law barring homosexual acts as "dreadful" last month when he was part of the Royal Shakespeare Company's world tour to stage William Shakespeare's "King Lear" and Anton Chekhov's "The Seagull" here in Singapore.
The government said last year that oral and anal sex in private between consenting heterosexual adults would be legalised under Singapore's first major penal code amendments in 22 years.
However, the penal code's section which criminalises "gross indecency" between two males will remain, the government said.
Nevertheless, gay-friendly establishments like pubs and saunas are doing a roaring trade catering to both locals and foreigners.
Source: AFP
LIN/B
Despite being one of Asia's most advanced societies, homosexuals acts are still outlawed in Singapore under laws dating back to British colonial days.
Biggest Gay Pride Celebration in Toronto
Toronto's 27th annual celebration climaxed Sunday with a vibrant Pride Parade.
Advertisement
McKellen described the law barring homosexual acts as "dreadful" last month when he was part of the Royal Shakespeare Company's world tour to stage William Shakespeare's "King Lear" and Anton Chekhov's "The Seagull" here in Singapore.
The government said last year that oral and anal sex in private between consenting heterosexual adults would be legalised under Singapore's first major penal code amendments in 22 years.
However, the penal code's section which criminalises "gross indecency" between two males will remain, the government said.
Nevertheless, gay-friendly establishments like pubs and saunas are doing a roaring trade catering to both locals and foreigners.
Source: AFP
LIN/B
Elton John Lends His Voice To The Cause Of Nepal’s Gay Community
British singer Sir Elton John is siding with Nepal's homosexual community , in the face of a chiding from a government official advising an HIV-support group to find 'something better to do'.
Advertisement
Hundreds of Thousands Attend Madrid Gay Pride ParadeHundreds of thousands of gays, lesbians and their supporters from Europe marched in Madrid Saturday under sunny skies in a colourful parade, as London and Paris also held their annual | Advertisement
|
Advertisement
Latest Sexual Health News
Sexual performance and sperm health are found to be affected with the increased levels of stress, thereby causing infertility.
The tests identified 255 cases of gonorrhea, chlamydia, or syphilis, most of which (86 percent) would have otherwise gone undetected for lack of symptoms.
Can getting married dull your sexual life? Yes, actually it can. After a while, long-term relationships can start to feel monotonous.
Facilitators can moderate group discussions via zoom successfully and should encourage each participant to speak openly.
Higher sperm epigenetic aging is associated with a longer time to become pregnant in couples not assisted by fertility treatment.