Fridae

The Hong Kong Court of Appeal has upheld the original decision handed down by a lower court in August 2005, against a law that prescribes life imprisonment for men younger than 21 who have sex with men.

Sections of the Crimes Ordinance, one of which recommends a life sentence for buggery by or on men under the age of 21, have been declared unconstitutional and thus unenforceable. Solicitor Michael Vidler explains why his 21-year-old client William "Billy" Leung, who initiated the judicial review, was an ideal archetype for such a case although he seemed an unlikely choice. A Fridae exclusive by Ho Lai-kit.

In an open letter published in Indian newspapers on Saturday, leading Indian writers, artists, lawyers and academics led by novelist Vikram Seth described Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code as "an archaic and brutal law that serves no purpose" and urged the government to overturn the British colonial era law that criminalises homosexuality.

The government of Hong Kong is seeking to overturn a landmark ruling that a higher age of consent for gays than for heterosexuals and lesbians - for whom consent is granted at 16 - is discriminatory and unconstitutional. Join William Leung, who initiated the judicial review in 2004, and send a message to the government that: "It should not matter if you are gay or straight, or whatever. The law should be the same for all."

Stigma greatly compromises the effectiveness of any HIV prevention work anywhere. In the second of his essay, Dr Tan Chong Kee looks at successful examples of pragmatic public health policies worldwide and what Singapore - both the government and the people - can do. Part 2 of 2.

Brad Pitt says he will marry Angelina Jolie when same-sex couples in the US can legally tie the knot. In Uganda, 58 alleged lesbians and gays have been outed by a local paper since August following last Friday's outing of 13 supposed lesbians. In India, the director of Quest, a new Bollywood film with a central gay plot, hopes for society to rethink its prejudice.

De-stigmatisation campaigns, aimed at changing attitudes towards homosexuals and People Living With HIV and AIDS (PLWHA), are what Singapore needs to better combat the spread of HIV because stigma greatly compromises the effectiveness of any HIV prevention work, says Dr Tan Chong Kee. Part 1 of 2.

LA-based DJ De Le�n who's making his Asian debut at Nation in Phuket talks to nightlife writer Tony Giampetruzzi about the DJ industry in the US, and taking risks and trying new things to deliver a fresh experience for Nation partygoers.

Taipei's Department of Civil Affairs and the Gender/Sexuality Rights Association in Taiwan will hold the seventh "LGBT Civil Rights Movement - Queer-friendly Taipei" festival this month. Hong Kong's AIDS Concern's response to the latest HIV/AIDS statistics in the territory.

Fridae is proud to announce a double-bill charity premiere of Imagine Me & You and My Summer of Love in benefit of the Association of Women for Action and Research and Cat Welfare Society on Sep 12 and Oct 16 in Singapore.