Big Screen, Bigger Issues for Indonesia`s Lesbians
Jakarta Globe - Jakarta, Indonesia, 1/31/2012
Two years ago, eight young Indonesian women came together for a project. Now, their hard work has resulted in a 75-minute feature-length film, ‘Children of Srikandi.’ The film’s tagline is: ‘For the first time, queer Indonesian women are breaking the code of silence.’ In a country where a declaration of homosexuality at best raises eyebrows and at worst incites blind hatred and prejudice, ‘Srikandi’ is a brave movie that sheds light on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community here. It is especially unique because the filmmakers themselves are part of that community and were able to honestly convey their own experiences, feelings and thoughts on the screen.
41 Legal Service Clinics for HIV-Hit by Feb
Deccan Chronicle - Bengaluru, India, 1/30/2012
The Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society (KSAPS) will establish legal services clinics in 41 ART (Anti-Retroviral Therapy) centres across the State to provide free legal services to people living with HIV (PLHIV). KSAPS is launching this initiative in collaboration with the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority (KSLSA). The legal centres are part of KSAPS effort to ensure zero stigma and discrimination against HIV/AIDS affected people.
Misconceptions Mar Fight Against HIV, Say Experts
The Times of India - Chennai, India, 1/29/2012
Twenty-five years after the first case of HIV and AIDS was reported in the country, experts say the main target in the fight against the disease is misconceptions. After releasing the 13th Behaviour Surveillance Survey Round XIII for 2011, experts in the field said that awareness among the public had gone up but awareness without misconception was low. Many believe that healthy-looking people have a good immune system and may not test positive for HIV and AIDS. Dr Bimal Charles, project director APAC said that in the surveys, people had said cleaning the vagina with vinegar or having sex with monkeys would keep out the infection.
Police Nab Women Who Lured Girls to Sex Trade
Jakarta Globe - Banda Aceh, Indonesia, 1/28/2012
Police in Aceh have arrested two women they suspect of trafficking teenage girls to Singapore. Adj. Comr. Elfiana from the Aceh Police’s women and children division said the two victims, both 16, told police that they were lured by the two women to go with them to Singapore via the nearby island of Batam, off Sumatra’s coast. They told police that the women forced them to provide sexual services to men while in Singapore. The women who were arrested were only 19 years old, Elfiana said. They too, he added, had once been victims of the very scheme that they used to trick the 16-year-old girls.
Police Nab Women Who Lured Girls to Sex Trade
Jakarta Globe - Banda Aceh, Indonesia, 1/28/2012
Police in Aceh have arrested two women they suspect of trafficking teenage girls to Singapore. Adj. Comr. Elfiana from the Aceh Police’s women and children division said the two victims, both 16, told police that they were lured by the two women to go with them to Singapore via the nearby island of Batam, off Sumatra’s coast. They told police that the women forced them to provide sexual services to men while in Singapore. The women who were arrested were only 19 years old, Elfiana said. They too, he added, had once been victims of the very scheme that they used to trick the 16-year-old girls.
New Lessons for the Teacher
The Nation - Bangkok, Thailand, 1/27/2012
Inthukorn Sitthiwong would make an excellent teacher, not only because it`s her life-long dream to help others improve their lives through education but also because she`d be a good role model to many students. Unfortunately, she`s being asked not to teach - at least not in any way that she could maintain her honesty and dignity. She’s one of many transgender women across the country who aspires to become teachers. Inthukorn`s case has brought back to the surface the debate over whether LGBT people should be allowed to teach. The basis of the opposition is the fear that children will `copy` their transgender teachers. Science is beginning to understand the roots of gender identity, and there is so far no evidence that this fear has any basis.
Daring to Speak its Name
Bangkok Post - Bangkok, Thailand, 1/26/2012
Shortly after the arrival of 2012 several local newspapers broke the story of two gay men from the South who went on to solemnise their relationship by hosting a traditional wedding. Since same-sex marriage is not legal in Thailand, all the guys gained from the ceremony was a happy memory and recognition of the union by their nearest and dearest. The continuing lack of matrimonial rights for gay and lesbian couples in this country often surprises foreign tourists who are aware of Bangkok`s unofficial status as the `gay capital` of the region. Greater social acceptance and more vigorous campaigning by LGBT locals will, sooner or later, bring the day when two hard-working tax-payers of the same gender will be able to have the dream wedding they deserve and have their union recognised by the State.
Activists Shocked at Gallantry Award for Chhattisgarh Cop
The Hindu - Raipur, India, 1/26/2012
Gender and rights activists have protested against the Union government presenting a gallantry award to a Chhattisgarh cadre police officer who allegedly supervised the torture of Soni Sori, a school teacher accused of assisting the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist). In a series of letters submitted to the Supreme Court, Ms. Sori says Mr. Garg verbally abused her and directed police personnel to torture her. She alleged that Mr. Garg watched as junior police personnel stripped her naked, administered electric shocks and assaulted her.
Gender Bias: ‘Women Can Get Away With a Lot More Than Men’
The Express Tribune - Karachi, Pakistan, 1/26/2012
While most speakers at the day-long International Women Leaders Summit agreed that corporate culture for women had generally improved in the country over time, a strong difference of opinion emerged during different panel discussions as to whether gender bias still existed in boardrooms across Pakistan. “We didn’t face any gender bias in the past 22 years. Not even once. In fact, female managers can get away with a lot more than their male counterparts in our society,” said Safinaz Munir of Sana Safinaz, a leading fashion brand. However, her views were in contrast to the general consensus among the participants of another panel discussion titled “Role of business organisations to promote gender diversity.”
Out of the Closet, On a DVD
Daily News and Analysis - Mumbai, India, 1/25/2012
She gave all up to work for the rights of lesbians and now runs the Sangini Trust, which is among the few registered organisations for homosexual women in the country. Singh and several other prominent members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community have joined hands for Project Bolo, a collection of their personal accounts which will be available as a DVD, an online streaming video, and a book. The project will also highlight the milestones of the Indian LGBT movement since the early 1960s.
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