Fridae

If you hang around California Fitness in Zhongxiao East Road in Taipei, you may bump into Hugo Chang - a beefy, sunny big boy with poster boy looks. He may be HIV+ but he doesn't let the illness get him down.

Just this month, award-winning lesbian cartoonist Alison Bechdel has published The Essential Dykes to Watch Out For, a bumper collection of 25 years of her work. Fridae chats with her about her life, her views, and her recent bout with censorship.

Bangkok-based entertainment writer and actor Nicholas Snow tested positive for the HIV virus just after New Year's Day this year. This week, he could well become the most outspoken HIV activist in Thailand. He tells Fridae his story in an exclusive interview ahead of his press conference to be held tomorrow.

Fridae speaks to one of the stars of the Singapore Biennale art exhibition, Australian queer activist/artist Deborah Kelly and finds out more about activism through art and her latest work called "Beware of the God" which warns against the influence of religion on politics.

Photographer, actor, writer, arts critic and Arts Programme Director of The Annexe, Central Market - arguably Kuala Lumpur's buzziest centre for contemporary arts - Pang Khee Teik is putting together Seksualiti Merdeka, Malaysia's first "sexuality rights" festival from Aug 29 - 31.

Better known as an actor for his roles in Asian Boys Vols 2 & 3 and for playing both Chang and Eng in the namesake musical, fans can now catch Robin Goh in his very own solo concert singing favourites from Judy Garland, Peggy Lee, Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra HIS WAY.

There's a hunky new guy spinning at Taboo: DJ Shigeki, a Japanese deejay and music maker previously based in Sydney and now living in Singapore. Fridae interviews him about his life and career.

Now 61, Ashok Row Kavi is the first person (and for a long time the only person) to come out as a gay man more than two decades ago and talk about gay rights in India.

LGBT advocacy turns 30 in Indonesia: gay rights pioneer Dede Oetomo talks to Fridae correspondent Justin Ellis about life and activism in the archipelago.

Fridae speaks to 26-year-old Nino Susanto, an aspiring environmental engineer and festival director of the Q! Film Festival in Jogjakarta, Indonesia about the event and youth activism.