Fridae

Thailand's first lesbian movie Yes or No, which was a surprise hit in China and Taiwan, returns to the screen with a sequel this month. Doug Sanders, who reviewed the first on Fridae, reports on the new two hour-long film.

Is marriage now a sure thing? Recent developments show major change. Doug Sanders reflects on the present possibilities.

Doug Sanders spent four weeks in Myanmar in January and February. There are changes: More tourists, easier to change money but still only a few places where credit cards are taken. And is there a gay scene, he reports.

Hillary Clinton's fine speech in Geneva on LGBT rights saw the US playing catch-up to initiatives of a dozen other Western countries. As activists, we welcome the US to the process. But dawn is not yet breaking everywhere. There are many time zones. Douglas Sanders contemplates the time lag for Asia.

British Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Perth in October did not adopt sweeping recommendations for change that included calling for the repeal of anti-homosexual criminal laws. We are not surprised. But the door has not been slammed shut. Doug Sanders reports.

Prof Douglas Sanders reports on the recently held 1st Biennial Conference of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions attended by representatives of the national human rights institutions (NHRIs) established by the governments of Afghanistan, Australia, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, South Korea, Thailand and Timor Leste.

What do the polls tell us about public attitudes on sexual orientation issues? Mainly they show the huge gaps between countries like Germany and India. Doug Sanders looks at the latest report.

The Hong Kong blockbuster Sex and Zen has filled theatres in the SAR and Taiwan. With cuts, it may soon be publicly available in other parts of Asia. It has proven, yet again, that “sex sells” and pushing limits can pay off. Doug Sanders saw it in a crowded theatre in HK.

Attitude is the best selling British gay magazine. Now we have a Thai language version. Is there really a market for a Thai gay ‘lifestyle’ magazine? Doug Sanders ponders the issues from his home in Bangkok, near a friendly Smile Book Store.

Fridae's Bangkok correspondent Douglas Sanders notices that the country's two major English language newspapers, which are widely read by locals and not just expats, are devoting more space to LGBT-related news and lifestyle stories.