thadocta

There is one in Melbourne Australia as well, although it seems to resemble a retirement home at times.

Dave

splatnz

Slightly OT but does anyone have any experience as an ex-pat professional working in Singapore? I'm moving there for work next year and interested in knowing if most gay people are out at work (is this common)?

Living in NZ it's no big deal so most people would be out and not expect any discrimination. Curious to know if this would be different.

Thanks

Sjoerd

I lived in Singapore for two years as an ex-pat professional. Very few gays are out at work. The unofficial policy is "don't ask, don't tell". I am sure the people who worked for me knew I was gay (not married, no children, frequent visits by a friend from Amsterdam), but the word "gay" was never mentioned at work. I work in financial services so the situation may be different in say the advertising world, but by and large you don't talk about being gay in Singapore. (outside the gay bars, that is). The vast majority of my local friends were in the closet to everybody (family, colleagues, friends) except to their gay friends.
With hindsight, I wish I had talked about being gay at work. The only way for a country to move ahead in this respect is when people come out and suddenly everybody knows real gay people.

World_Traveler

Sounds like they're not allowing that mile-high "behavior" whether straight or gay. According to an ABC station in Chicago:

Traveloguy

But liquid soap could actually make life a little easier!

AJLondon

Ouch.

SingaPaul

Very innovative!!! Totally caught me by surprize!!! See how we men can adapt to virtually any situation...

Double, Double Toil and Trouble;
Passion Burn, and Buttock Bubble!!!

Is that why they call it bubble butt???

holtju2

Just transited via SIN couple of times in the las two weeks or so. The SIN is as "sinful" as on my previous visits despite the gay sex ban.

asnovici

Any recommendations on nightlife in Singapore on the weekdays and weekends? Specific spots, or maybe an internet resource you find helpful? Not interested in Towel Place, but interested in a bar/lounge. Thanks.

meFIRST

Aside from flying SQ (who doesn't love it), I never really liked Singapore. (I felt I like had to constantly watch my back, afraid of doing the wrong thing).

That aside, most of Asia believe it or not, even Hong Kong, is kind of conservative when it comes to same sex relations. I second the "don't ask, don't tell policy".

NZ and OZ should not be compared in the same league. It's a different mindset - people in Asia, from my sense view that (same sex couples) as sort of a very western/European idea.

sfvoyage

Many Asian cultures have a long, noble and illustrious tradition of same sex love/couples. For Chinese tradition, you may want to read Bret Hinsch's "Passion of a Cut Sleeve", which details male homosexuality in ancient China through the examination of ancient scrolls, paintings and literature. In Japan, there are similar historical literary and artistic evidence.

Homosexuality as a sin and aberration, however, is very much a Western idea introduced to many Asian countries via Western religion and their missionaries.

YVR Cockroach

I wonder if Thailand, as one of the very few countries that wasn't colonised by an European nation, has a more liberal attitude? It certainly doesn't stigmatise transvestities and transsexuals as much.

sfvoyage

Great point! Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist country and has a very tolerant, relaxed & non-judgmental attitude toward sexual orientation. When you go to department stores, even the very top tier ones, you often see transvestites and transexuals staffing the cosmetics counters and spraying perfume at you as you walk by. Buddhism just does not preach hatred, shame and sin. In fact, it does not preach. One has to seek out Buddhism; it's an internal journey & discovery. (I am not Buddhist, so apologies for my generalizing.)

JumboJetLA

hmm this sex ban does not surprise me...they are just trying to appeal to the conservative masses.. esp of a Muslim decent..

It is funny that they do this ban esp for a few years when they hosted the biggest gay circuit party .. Freedom Party or something? or the Red/white party?

anonplz

On a side note, there's a film out currently in limited release, "A Jihad for Love", directed by Parvez Sharma, that touches on the topic of homosexuality in muslim cultures and some Asian countries. Gonna see it this weekend.

http://www.avclub.com/content/cinema...rce=imdb_rss_1