The M1 Singapore Fringe Festival returns from 15 to 26 February with the theme of Art and Faith. We highlight works by queer artists, while playwright Irfan Kasban talks to us about his Islam-inspired plays.
Rumour has it transsexuals don't usually live past 50, so Abigail Chay, a Singaporean transgender comedian now 52, treasures every second she is given. Fridae.asia's Hong Kong reporter Tony Ed Lo meets Chay and Angus Chan, who play Abigail in the musical that recently ended its run, and finds out how her life story came to inspire a musical staged by a newly founded Hong Kong-based group, a&g production.
Former Sex and the City co-star Cynthia Nixon has sparked a backlash after saying that (her) being gay is a choice – a viewpoint that many in the gay community oppose.
Social worker Leow Yangfa's first book explores the lives of 21 GLBT people in Singapore, focusing on their struggles with abuse, illness and prejudice. Ng Yi-Sheng reviews.
Inspired by the '70s hit Hong Kong girl band duo Chopsticks Sisters, Perry Chiu Experimental Theatre presents Chopsticks, the first lesbian-themed musical in Hong Kong. Fridae's reporter Tony Ed Lo talks to the show's producer, director and one of its leads, Perry Chiu about how the sisters' relationship evolves from friendship to love via music.
The Hong Kong Lesbian and Gay Film Festival kicks off today with more than 30 full-length and short films to be screened over two weeks, and will feature more Asian content than in previous years.
Dustin Lance Black to GQ: “Leaning on lies, myths and stereotypes about gay people is hateful, harmful and outdated. It’s not the 1950s anymore GQ, it’s 2011 and it’s time to grow up.”
Hans Tao-Ming Huang's new book seeks to chronicle five decades of queer related cultural history and politics of sexuality in Taiwan by examining literary works including Pai Hsien-yung's Crystal Boys, one of Taiwan's first recognised gay novels; Taiwanese newspaper observations of same-sex issues; the influence the feminist movement has in Taiwan; among others.
In this new collection, Peter A. Jackson brings together experts including veteran Singapore gay activist Alex Au, and prominent academics Professor Douglas Sanders, Megan Sinnot and Dr Sam Winter, to piece together a picture of how Thailand’s politics, economics, art, society and views of sex affect the LGBT people who actually live there as opposed to just pass through.