Evan was 16 and doing well in school when he decided that he wanted to die. Years of enduring slurs such as “pondan” and “bapok” (derogatory terms in Malay for transvestite) and his effeminate ways had left Evan (not his real name) despondent and he finally cracked. In March 2004, he told a friend it …
Acting on faith: LGBT Muslims and Christians in Singapore forming their own spaces Read More »
IT WAS a tough Ramadan month. First came the Manchester Arena bombing just days before the start of the fasting month on May 26. Children as young as 8 were among the dead. Then the truck bomb that killed 90 in Kabul three days into Ramadan. The day after, a car bomb ripped through an …
This is the final article on More Than Just, a closed-door series of three dinner conversations on race and racism in Singapore. Over 20 participants attended all three sessions and were chosen to reflect the diversity of Singapore. Names are withheld for confidentiality, to provide a safe, open space, for honest conversations. Read the first …
I ONCE had a stranger do the “Indian head shake” barely five minutes into our conversation. He changed his accent too for added effect. A lame attempt at humour that hardened the ice rather than break it. To be fair, I had cracked a few self-deprecating jokes on stage during a presentation earlier. But the …
This is the second of three articles on More Than Just, a closed-door series of three dinner conversations on race and racism in Singapore. Participants attend all three sessions and were chosen to respect the diversity of Singapore. Names are withheld for confidentiality, to provide a safe, open space, for honest conversations. Read the first …
So what if you don’t mean it? The outcome is still racist Read More »