Fridae

Ahead of the biennial 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit to be held Nov 27-29, representatives of gay groups from ten countries including Singapore, Malaysia and India are attending a parallel conference called the Commonwealth People's Forum with the aim of campaigning for the repeal of sodomy laws - a very common feature of ex-British colonies. Alex Au writes from Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago.

Poet, playwright and winner of the Singapore Literature Prize last year for his poetry anthology Last Boy, Ng Yi-Sheng has been dropped by the Ministry of Education as a mentor in the Creative Arts Programme one month into his mentorship.

Offensive speech is not the same as hate speech, so what is hate speech and when do we make it illegal?

Was AWARE ever a pro-gay organisation? Prominent social commentator and gay activist Alex Au comments on the latest developments and new president Josie Lau's "revelation" of the new Exco's direction in her first TV interview.

The issue of sex with teenagers below legal age is a thorny one with discussions typically generating more heat than light, says Alex Au.

Keep the message short and simple. Keep it one that millions of gay and bisexual people can embrace, through their own personal experience, so that they can confidently go out to change minds.

Do the sentences ranging from 18 months in a reformative training centre to 4 � years' jail and eight strokes of the cane - and charges of causing grievous hurt - commensurate with the severity of the offence?

For the first time in almost 10 years, the controversial subject of gay sexuality education in Singapore schools was discussed in a talk show on Tuesday night. Columnist and veteran gay activist Alex Au compares the past and present, and sees a "positive difference".

Unlike last year, Singapore's LGBT pride season Indignation which ended last week was not hit by any bans. Fridae columnist and event co-organiser Alex Au recaps the events organised by various community groups and individuals over a 3-week period.

Think again before you accept a "special" to round off a massage session - even if you've got "protection." Alex Au, who loves going for massages, explains why.