Fridae

How can gays and lesbians be accepted as "regular" people and not as subversives? Alex Au delves into how a perspectival shift can help even as we hope for Asian societies to "get used to" gay people without having to be too confrontational.

Lawyer-turned-director Ligy Pullappally recent lesbian film The Journey (Sancharam) has widely toured film festivals worldwide and won three awards in India despite its controsversial theme.

Taiwan gay groups have called for the abolition of laws which bans the sale, circulation and public display of obscene publications after the conviction of a gay bookstore owner. Meanwhile in India, the Human Rights Watch has renewed its call for India to repeal its sodomy laws after recent arrests.

Celebrate the arrival of a brand new year as fellow festive fairies, Alvin Tan and Joshua Ang, present Fridae's Ten Gay Resolutions for 2006!

While many have predicted that Hong Kong will lower the legal age for gay sex from 21 to 16 following the High Court's decision last August, the government has responded that it will appeal the case. In the UK, same-sex couples can now adopt children, meanwhile a top Muslim cleric has condemned gay civil partnerships in a radio programme.

Singapore activist Alex Au muses about the benefits of having printed gay maps in the age of Internet and why cities should be proud they have one for visitors and locals alike.

2005 was a banner year for advocates of gay unions, as gay rights groups celebrated victories with same-sex marriage and partnership laws taking effect in several countries. However, discrimination and oppression still continued in many countries, as observers of rights movements prepare to greet the new year with guarded optimism.

Welcome to Fridae's monthly advice column where Alvin dispenses his own unique brand of advice for those who need it oh-so-badly.

One out of every two thousand births presents parents with a sudden gender dilemma as the sex of the baby is not clear. Cheryl Chase, founder and executive director of the Intersex Society of North America, talks about her work to end the shame, secrecy and unwanted genital surgeries for intersex people.

Australia Prime Minister John Howard has ruled out following Britain's lead by introducing civil unions for same-sex couples. Elsewhere, Rosanna Flamer-Caldera of Sri Lanka and Dr Peter Jackson, a well-known Australian academic have been named winners of the 2005 Utopia Awards.