Fridae

Once again, the word 'sodomy' reverberates through Malaysian politics. Once again, the accusation is widely believed to be a device for cutting opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim down to size.

A censorship manager with Singapore's largest free-to-air channel warns that "(e)ven a cooking show can be dangerous" as just one remark can "normalise (the) gay lifestyle." Meanwhile, Singapore's newly appointed Attorney-General warns of human rights "fanatics."

A Catholic organisation in the United States spent an estimated three-quarters of a million dollars to buy advertisements in three major newspapers to attack homosexuality and same-sex marriage.

The life story of playwright and poet Oscar Wilde, who is today widely celebrated as an artist persecuted for his homosexuality, is being told in Wilde starring Stephen Fry and Jude Law. The movie will be shown at a Gala Fundraiser on May 13 to benefit Indignation, Singapore's gay pride season.

How far does God's love go? Does it salve all pain and resolve all questions? Alex Au reviews Secret Sunshine - the Best Picture winner of this year's 2nd Asian Film Awards - about a woman's journey of faith.

A mother recently wrote to papers to complain that her 17-year-old son was given a gift of a condom when he bought a cake from a bakery. A recent survey in Singapore found that about 1 in 5 didn't know that a condom could protect one against HIV while about a third believed that HIV could be transmitted through a mosquito bite or by kissing. Alex Au wonders why is it so hard to talk about sex?

Fridae first reported that part of director Cynthia Wade's speech made during the acceptance of her Oscar award was snipped when it was shown on Singapore TV... Alex Au attempts to decipher what's allowed and what's not based on replies by the broadcasting authority and broadcaster.

Are gay people unwilling to believe the science surrounding homosexuality, instead preferring simple cut-and-dried answers? Alex Au looks at current scientific consensus which say that multiple genes do play a part and urges scientific literacy.

Progress towards gay equality does not spring in isolation from the broader environment. It is often dependent on trends and events in the political, social, legal and even economic sphere, both local and global. What are a few of these that may be worth watching in 2008?

Jesus Camp, a Best Documentary Feature nominee at the 2007 Oscars, takes a close look at a charismatic Christian summer camp where children are trained to be "Christian soldiers" to "take back America for Christ." Alex Au reasons why the gay community must be aware of the effects of the politicalisation of evangelical Christianity.