Fridae

British nationals who live in Hong Kong have been barred from entering into same-sex civil partnerships as the British consulate complies with the SAR government's wishes. In Taipei, same-sex couples have been asked to join in a group wedding in the city's upcoming gay pride parade, scheduled for September.

Held over Bangkok's wettest, hottest and most celebrated festival, Songkran which is also known as the Water festival, the aptly named Squirt and Slurp parties drew over 1,500 and some 2,500 attendees respectively.

In Singapore this week, Singapore gay web site, Sgboy.com, is turning seven and they are having a "Prom King" contest and party. In Hollywood, Charlize Theron, Melissa Etheridge and "Transamerica" win the 17th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. In Hong Kong, "Brokeback" has inspired a new gay slang.

Hundreds (possibly thousands) of "red-shirted" gay men and lesbians are expected to descend on Hong Kong Disneyland before heading out to sea the next day for Floatilla - a gathering of boats and old-fashioned Chinese junks anchored off Lamma Island!

Fridae and Action for Aids wants all MSM (men who have sex with men) - gay, bisexual, straight, queer or what have you - to participate in the 2006 MSM survey.

Aussie PM John Howard has reiterated his opposition towards same-sex civil unions in response to proposed legislation to recognise same-sex relationships. Meanwhile in Thailand, the military is set to declassify transgenderism as a "mental disorder."

Madonna will begin her latest and much anticipated world tour in Los Angeles on May 21. The Material Girl whose latest album Confessions on a Dance Floor debuted at No.1 in 29 countries, has also been nominated for Favourite Female Artist at the 2006 MTV Asia Awards.

All 30 tables - which is the maximum capacity of the ballroom and costing S$8,000 each - were sold several weeks before the event.

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is set to become the first territory or state in Australia to allow gay civil marriages. An international health group has warned Asia-Pacific nations in light of rising HIV rates among Asia's MSM population.

Fridae's Feelin' Good party, scheduled for Sunday 26 March, has been called off after the venue, Ministry of Sound received a telephone call from local police demanding that the party be cancelled.