Welcome to Fridae's newsletter. This week we've featured Lady Gaga's epic new music video. We've also got news from around the continent including Hong Kong's first ever Pink Dot festival.
ASEAN SOGIE Caucus have been at the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Civil Society Conference and the ASEAN People's Forum in Yangon, Myanmar. The group has been lobbying the 10 member states to make provisions for LGBT rights.
Let's have a look at the latest LGBT updates from Japan. There's been a revealing poll about the nation's stance on gay marriage, a HIV awareness billboard causing a stir in Tokyo and an inspirational coming out speech from a teenager.
Last Sunday, PTS, Taiwan's public televisions station, aired what is being hailed as the first gay comedy on public television in Taiwan. The broadcast came amidst rival same-sex marriage demonstrations in Taipei.
An unnamed Japanese student has given a moving speech about the discrimination felt by LGBT people in the contemporary world. Borrowing the legendary words of Martin Luther King, the student commented on global gay issues as well as his own experiences as he came out to his classmates and teachers.
Clashes broke out in Taipei at the weekend as pro-gay marriage activists tried to join a rally organized by Christian churches to promote the idea of a family as consisting of one father, one mother and their children.
Directed by Gaga herself, the Artpop Production from Haus of Gaga is 7 minutes long. The epic video features dramatic heaven and hell dreamscapes mixed with Greek mythology, used to create a parody of male-dominated capitalism. Oh, and there's plenty of shirtless men.