Fridae

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.

Prominent Singapore gay activist and social commentator Alex Au draws on two recent news stories and cautions against over-focusing on the health benefits and/or the power of the pink dollar in arguing for the repeal of gay sex laws.

In conjunction with "29 Ways: Towards an LGBTIQ-Friendly Malaysia" to held 29 May in Kuala Lumpur, Nur Hidayah, a Malaysian lawyer, shares how becoming close friends with her lesbian college roommate helped her reconsider and renew her childhood friendship with a gay male friend.

The following was written by Pepper Lim, a Malaysian author and father of two, in conjunction with "29 Ways: Towards an LGBTIQ-Friendly Malaysia" to held 29 May in Kuala Lumpur.

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.

Larry Kramer, a prominent 76-year-old American playwright, author, public health advocate, and LGBT rights activist, said in an interview that he sees himself as a gay person before anything else and wonders why some (gay) people today do not identify themselves as gay.

The issue of sexual orientation is being used time and time again for political gain as two recent cases in Singapore and Taiwan have shown. But why does sex and sexual orientation hold so much power in the minds of the public?

While it might be generally accepted that coming out not only contributes to an individual's sense of well-being but also serves a public good, Charles Tan observes that some LGBT activists are appearing to advocate the reverse when it comes to the issue of outing politicians.

Should politicians have to declare their sexual orientation, just as they have to declare their assets? Fan Yun, an associate professor of sociology at National Taiwan University, discusses the issue after an opposition leader and hopeful in Taiwan's 2012 presidential election was asked to clarify her sexual orientation.

Boris O. Dittrich, a member of parliament at the time when the Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage in 2001, wrote in an op-ed that despite gay people marrying "civilisation as we know it didn't end."