Related Research Articles
There are no statistics on how many LGBT people there are in Singapore or what percentage of the population they constitute. While homosexuality is legal in the country, the country is largely conservative.
There is a long history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender activity in Singapore. Male homosexuality was outlawed under British rule, despite being acknowledged among the local population. Following Japanese occupation during World War II and the country gaining independence, homosexuality and transvestism were visible as a street scene, and from the 1970s were catered for in some nightclubs. In that decade also, Singapore became a centre of gender-reassignment surgery.
This article deals with writing that deals with LGBT themes in a Singapore context. It covers literary works of fiction, such as novels, short stories, plays and poems. It also includes non-fiction works, both scholarly and targeted at the general reader, such as dissertations, journal or magazine articles, books and even web-based content. Although Singapore lacks a dedicated gay book publisher or gay bookshop, it does have at least one dedicated gay library, Pelangi Pride Centre, which is open weekly to the public. Many of the works cited here may be found both in Pelangi Pride Centre, as well as the National Library or other academic libraries in Singapore, as well as in some commercial bookshops under 'gender studies' sections.
The rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people in Singapore have evolved over the decades. Same-sex sexual activity is legal for both males and females; for men it was officially legalised in 2022 after being de facto decriminalised since 2007, and for women it was always legal. Prior to 2022, same-sex sexual activity between males was de jure illegal under the British colonial-era Section 377A of the Penal Code. The law had been de facto unenforced for decades. In February 2022, the Court of Appeal in the Supreme Court reaffirmed that 377A cannot be used to prosecute men for having sex with other men, and that it is "unenforceable in its entirety". Transgender rights in the country are also progressive in the region, which included Singapore being the first country in Asia to legalise sex reassignment surgery in 1973.
Singapore's first public LGBTQ+ pride festival, IndigNation, took place during the month of August in 2005, with a second annual IndigNation in August
A gay icon is a public figure who is regarded as a cultural icon by members of the LGBTQ community. Such figures usually have a devoted LGBTQ fanbase and act as allies to the LGBTQ community, often through their work, or they have been "openly appreciative of their gay fanbase". Many gay icons also have a camp aesthetic style, which is part of their appeal to LGBTQ individuals.
Pink Dot SG, known endonymously as Pink Dot, is a pride event that has occurred annually since 2009 in support of the LGBTQ community in Singapore. Attendees of Pink Dot events gather to form a "pink dot" to show support for inclusiveness, diversity and the freedom to love in the country. Pink Dot events typically include concert performances and booths sponsored by organizations that support the LGBT community and cause in addition to the event's name-brand formation.
GagaOOLala is a Taiwan-based worldwide subscription video on demand service, specializing in uncensored LGBT-related films, LGBT made-for television films and contemporary LGBT television drama series. It has partnered with Japanese-based Line TV, initially in Thailand, and then across Asia, to provide the service with GagaOOLala-made TV series. GagaOOLala is owned by Portico Media, whose also carried pay TV channels for Taiwan cable TV provider along with Chunghwa Telecom's MOD platform.
Pan Pan Narkprasert, known as Pangina Heals, is a Thai drag queen and judge on Drag Race Thailand, who later went on to compete on the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (2022). She has been described as one of the most popular drag performers in Asia, and is often called the RuPaul of Thailand. Narkprasert founded the Bangkok drag venue, House of Heals.
Sam See is a Singaporean stand up comedian and improvisor.
Otto Fong Yong Chin is a Singaporean comic artist, playwright and teacher.
Silent Walls is a 2023 Singaporean thriller television series telecast on Mediacorp Channel 8 and produced by Ochre Pictures. It stars Tasha Low, Ayden Sng, Mindee Ong, Tay Ying, Charlie Goh, Foo Fang Rong, Shane Pow, Ferlyn Wong, Macy Chen, Alfred Sng, Desmond Shen, Desmond Ng, Jojo Goh, Andie Chen, Bernard Tan and Chen Shucheng. The series centres around a mansion and the lives of its occupants in 1938, 1963, 1988 and 2023.
Dear Straight People is an LGBT media platform based in Singapore. Since its launch, Dear Straight People has gained prominence as one of Asia's leading LGBT publications.
Sean Foo is a Singaporean entrepreneur, filmmaker and advocate known for his contributions to the LGBT community through his work with Dear Straight People.
Steven David Lim, also known as Steven Lim, is a Singaporean actor, photographer, and restaurateur best known for his role as David Tay in the long-running drama series Growing Up on MediaCorp TV Channel 5. He is of Peranakan origin.
References
- 1 2 "Singapore's Dear Straight People drops gay drama set in Bangkok: Coconuts". Coconuts . 23 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
- ↑ Tan, Jou Teng (18 May 2022). "Singapore's First Gay BL Web Drama "GETAWAY" Features An Openly Queer Cast, Is Based On An Original Story". ZULA.sg. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- 1 2 "Dear Straight People founder Sean Foo on creating gay web drama series ahead of pride month". Marketing-Interactive. 30 May 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ↑ "Out and Proud". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ↑ "'I was in love with somebody, I couldn't tell my parents': Growing Up actor Steven Lim on coming out to family". AsiaOne. 4 July 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ↑ "'All the stars aligned' to make Singaporean gay drama Getaway, creator says". South China Morning Post. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ↑ "Singapore LGBTQ+ community's first BL web drama series debuts | TheHomeGround Asia". thehomeground.asia. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ↑ "Sean Foo, founder of Dear Straight People, on running one of Asia's most popular LGBTQ+ media platforms". Tatler . 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- ↑ "'Getaway' Is Coming To GagaOOLala on September 28!: BL Tai". BL Tai . 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
