Fridae

Singapore MP praises govt for banning gay party
A Singapore MP, Loh Meng See (Jalan Besar GRC), praised the government's decision in banning of the gay Christmas bash, Snowball.04 which was to be the third annual event organised by Fridae. Referring to the ban, he urged the Government not to tarnish Singapore's "clean image" at a Parliamentary session.

Meanwhile, Sin Boon Ann (Tampines GRC) speaking on family values and social mores, suggested that Singaporeans "be prepared to face hard issues that are fast emerging in recent years". The definition of a "family" may have to be extended to be "more inclusive of singles who adopt babies", single parents through artificial insemination or same-sex marriages.

Other topics discussed at the Second Session of the 10th Parliament which opened on Jan 12 include fee hikes imposed by the three local varsities, establishing a casino, private-public social enterprise, employment among older workers.

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Texas GLBT community outraged by 'ex-gay' billboards

"I questioned homosexuality. Change is possible. Discover how." Said the billboards featuring either a man or a woman.

The GLBT community in Houston and Galveston is reacting angrily after 15 billboards promoting Focus on the Family's "Love Won Out" conference set for Feb 19 in Houston appeared. The conference, which costs US$50 for advance registration and US$60 for walk-in registration, bills itself as "a dynamic one-day conference addressing, understanding and preventing homosexuality."

Sue Null, an advocacy chair for the Houston chapter of the Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) told the Houston Chronicle that her organisation is considering an appropriate response to the billboards. "For an organisation to spend their time and money promoting untruth and lies against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders is a deplorable situation," she said.

"Ex-gay" poster boy John Paulk who also authored the book "Love Won Out," (of which he was formerly the programme director) made the cover of Newsweek for claiming people could change their sexual orientation. He would later leave Focus on the Family after being photographed by a Human Rights Campaign staffer at a well-known gay bar in Washington, D.C. in 2000.

According to the American Psychiatric Association's web site: "There is no published scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of 'reparative therapy' as a treatment to change one's sexual orientation. It is not described in the scientific literature, nor is it mentioned in the APA's latest comprehensive Task Force Report, Treatments of Psychiatric Disorders (1989). There is no evidence that any treatment can change a homosexual person's deep-seated sexual feelings for others of the same sex," the APA says.

The web site concludes, "Clinical experience suggests that any person who seeks conversion therapy may be doing so because of social bias that has resulted in internalised homophobia, and that gay men and lesbians who have accepted their sexual orientation positively are better adjusted than those who have not done so."

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US Conservative Christian groups slap gay warning on cartoon promoting tolerance
The spin-doctors at Focus on the Family must have been working overtime last week. Focus on the Family last week accused an animated film featuring a rendition of the 1979 hit song "We Are Family," of promoting homosexuality.

The music video, which was created with the aim of promoting tolerance of others and featuring cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants, came under fire from Focus on the Family and several other US religious groups, who charge that the "pro-homosexual video" is an attempt to "brainwash" kids.

The DVD of the music video is set to be mailed out to US elementary schools along with educational lesson plans developed in collaboration with the Anti-Defamation League and a "tolerance pledge" that includes a mention of tolerance for different sexual identities. Barney, Clifford, Arthur, characters from Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, Bill Cosby, Diana Ross and Whoopi Goldberg also appear in the footage.

A spokesperson for the conservative American Family Association Tuesday accused the media of making light of the situation. Stephen Bennett, who calls himself "an ex-gay" and who serves as the AFA's Special Issues Editor on Homosexuality, says the media has twisted Dobson's words. "No, Sponge Bob or none of the other cartoon characters featured in the video are 'gay,'" said Bennett. "The video itself does not promote homosexuality, but no doubt will open the door to a secondary discussion of accepting homosexuality as natural and normal."

Meanwhile, Nile Rodgers, a veteran musician who co-wrote the song and produced the video said that he is shocked that some conservatives see his efforts as an effort to encourage homosexuality. He says that the video does not make any reference to homosexuality or any sexual orientation anywhere.

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Aussie gay activist wins accolade
For only the second time, a gay activist has been appointed a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia, one of the country's highest honours. Ian Purcell, a former Adelaide teacher and member of the Ministerial Advisory Council on Gay and Lesbian Health and the Lets Get Equal Campaign, was one of 71 people who have been recognised with awards this Australia Day on Jan 26.

He has held numerous positions within other gay lobby groups and published several books documenting the experiences and legal rights of the gay community.

Ian Purcell said he hoped his Australia Day honour would highlight the struggle for gay and lesbian rights in Australia and send a strong message to state and federal governments. "Even though we have come a long way, young people coming out today still find it extremely difficult. Certainly there's much more information for them but it's still a difficult step to take because there's still homophobia and that sort of thing. Federally, Australia has one of the worst records in the western world for gay and lesbian rights. This award gives me the opportunity to say to our governments 'look, why are you still dilly-dallying - get on with it.'"

In 2003, Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesman Rodney Croome became the first gay activist appointed a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia, while three other activists have been awarded the Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia.