Closing this blog

Dear Friends

This blog will be discontinued effective immediately.

All news and updates will be posted on our newly revamped website.

Please visit and bookmark our website for the latest happening at Pelangi Pride Centre.

http://www.pelangipridecentre.org

thanks

PPC and Free Community Church present Free To Be You

Event: PPC and Free Community Church present Free To Be You
Date: 26 June 2010 (Sat)
Time: 4pm
Venue: Pelangi Pride Centre
Cost per person: $6 (cost of 2 soft drinks and finger foods)
RSVP: This event is by invitation only.
As there are LIMITED seats, prior registration is required.
To get an invitation - please email [pelangipridecentre at yahoo dot com]
with your name (in full), contact number, the name/s of your guests.

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Free To Be You - Free to be a gay Christian youth.

The youths of the Free Community Church will be sharing their experience as gay Christian youths struggling and journeying with God through music, stand up comedy, personal stories and sharing.

If you're a gay Christian youth struggling with your faith and sexuality or if you're simply curious about what it's like, then this event is for you. Come, listen and share with us your problems and experiences.

About the Free Community Church:
http://www.freecomchurch.org/

Event - PPC and SAFE presents: Journeys - The road to acceptance

Event: PPC and SAFE presents: Journeys - The road to acceptance.
Date: 5 June 2010 (Sat)
Time: 4pm
Venue: Pelangi Pride Centre
Cost per person: $6 (cost of 2 soft drinks and finger food)
RSVP: This event is by invitation only.
As there are LIMITED seats, prior registration is required.
To get an invitation - please email [pelangipridecentre at yahoo dot com]
with your name (in full), contact number, the name/s of your guests.

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**Coming out to grandpa - An original short story.
told by Joo Hymn
It's been so long since I've been able to have a meaningful conversation
with grandparents...

about Joo Hymn -
Joo Hymn was the President of AWARE (2006 to 2007), current exco member of
AWARE, a founding member of SAFE, one of the co-petitioners to repeal Penal
Code's Section 377A in 2007, current exco member of the Breast Feeding
Mothers' Support Group, and an aspiring story teller.

**Our journey - Mdm Yiap Geok Khuan and Eileena Lee.
http://pinkdotsg.blogspot.com/2010/04/when-one-door-closes-closet-door-opens.html

"Yiap Geok Khuan, 67, mother of Eileena Lee who's openly lesbian, told the
crowd why she was there: "This (homosexuality, bisexuality and
transgenderism) is God's gift to them (gays, lesbians, bisexuals and
transgender people) and is a natural trait. It's is not an easy journey for
them and as parents, we should stand by them and overcome society's
prejudices."" Fridae.com

about SAFE -
http://safesingapore.blogspot.com/

Highlights of Pink Dot 2010!

Well done everyone and we're very proud of you, E and Mum! :)

We will be closed next Sat, 15 May because we will all be at Pink Dot!

That's right! We'll be closed next Sat, 15 May because we would like to encourage all our friends to join us and support Pink Dot! Email us at pelangipridecentre@yahoo.com for the FREE TSHIRT DESIGN and PRINT IT on your own Tshirt!

See you at Pink Dot!
The PPC Team

We are open tomorrow! 8 May 2010!

Hi everyone

Just a gentle reminder that we will be open from 4-8pm tomorrow (Sat, 8 May) :) The other Sats that we will be open in May are 22nd and 29th!

Kindly note that we will be closed on Sat 15 May cos we will all be at Pink Dot!

Take care and see you!

Show your support for Pink Dot and PPC by wearing this Tshirt! FREE Design, Print Your Own Tee!

Email us at pelangipridecentre@yahoo.com for the high-resolution image!

Friends of PPC, volunteer for Pink Dot!

Friends of PPC, Pink Dot 2010 needs volunteers!

If you are able to help out on 15 May 2010 at Hong Lim Park (Speaker's Corner) from 1-730pm (do indicate if you can only report at a later time), then please email us at pelangipridecentre@yahoo.com

We will collate your replies and send them on to Pink Dot by Sunday, 9 May.

WHAT VOLUNTEERS CAN DO

Formation markers:
Guide participants to create the human formation of Pink Dot and other shapes.

Ushers:
Hand out leaflets and free gifts, and show participants around.

Stage crew:
Assist performers and Pink Dot ambassadors during their appearances.

Photography:
Shooting and processing. On the ground or from the air.

Videography:
Shooting and post-production.

First Aid:
On the standby for anyone in need.

Miscellaneous:
And of course, everyone will contribute towards setting up, decorating, dismantling and area cleaning at the park.

Transport:
We are looking for a lorry or van that is available with driver for the entire day on 15 May.

The stage is set!!

HOW TO JOIN

Email to pelangipridecentre@yahoo.com (heading: "Pink Dot Volunteer") with:

Name:
Mobile No.:
Email:
Nationality: Singaporean / PR / Foreigner*
Preferred Role: Formation/Usher/Stage Crew/Photography/Videography/First Aid/Transport/Anything*
Other Comments:

[* delete whichever inapplicable]

"Coming Out" with Eileena Lee, one of PPC's Founders and Her Mum

PPC is proud of Eileena Lee and her mum for sharing their "coming out" journey, as part of this year's Pink Dot publicity videos! If you have trouble viewing the video, click here!

Missed April's Event? Catch the Snippets Here!

Hi everyone

If you missed April's event with Otto Fong, you can catch a snippet here!

UPDATE! Another snippet here!

See you at PPC soon!

Library open this Sat (24 April) but closed on LABOUR DAY (1 May)

Hi everyone

We will be open this Saturday, 24 April but will be closed on the subsequent Saturday for Labour Day (1st May). Everyone who has books that are due on 1st May can take them for another week and return them on 8th May :)

We are also planning to support Pink Dot (15th May) and will provide information on how you can join us shortly!

Take care!

The PPC Team

Free Books!

Hi everyone

We have TONS of books to give away! We just did another lot of spring cleaning and there's tons to release back to the community for FREE!

Here are some of the titles...

Here are the stacks of books we are giving away!

So come down and visit us any Saturday between 4-8pm at 41A Neil Road, borrow books and "tapao" these freebies!

Take care!

Event - Otto Fong's "Who Is Standing Between Me and My Big Gay Heaven?"

Event - Otto Fong's "Who Is Standing Between Me and My Big Gay Heaven?"

17 of April 2010 @ PELANGI PRIDE CENTRE presents

Otto Fong's "Who Is Standing Between Me and My Big Gay Heaven?"

Details at a Glance
Date: 17 April 2010 (Sat)
Time: 4pm
Venue: Pelangi Pride Centre
Cost per person: $6 (cost of 2 soft drinks and finger food)

RSVP: This event is by invitation only.
As there are LIMITED seats, prior registration is required.
To get an invitation - please email [pelangipridecentre at yahoo dot com] with your name (in full), contact number, the name/s of your guests.

---

Who Is Standing Between Me and My Big Gay Heaven?

I've been an openly-gay man since September 2007.

I came out because I saw that carrying the closet with me for 30 years did not give me the life I wanted.

I want a career in comic book creation.

I want to live in a country as cool as South Korea or Japan.

I want my family and my partner's family to know each other!

And I want a dog!

But dang! Those homophobes are so in my way!

They stood there like a herd of medieval warriors and said my kind of sex should be illegal!

In the two years that I have been openly-gay, I explored the world outside the closet. Would you like to know what's out there?

Come join us on the 17th of April at PPC!

New Pictures on our Facebook Fan Page!

Hi everyone

It's been a long time coming but we've posted photos from our numerous moves!

Come visit us on our Facebook Fan Page and journey with us through memory lane as we show what goes on behind the scenes, as we have carted our ever-growing library from one place to another.

Kindly note that volunteers pictured are a mixture of people from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and straight community.

Take care!

The PPC Team

Get your copy of the updated LGBTQ Resource List!

Hi everyone

We've updated our LGBTQ Resource List. Get you copy here!

Take care!

The PPC Team

Event - HIV: A Volunteer's Journey

Event - HIV: A Volunteer's Journey

27 of March 2010 @ PELANGI PRIDE CENTRE

"HIV: A Volunteer's Journey"

Details at a Glance
Date: 27 March 2010 (Sat)
Time: 4pm
Venue: Pelangi Pride Centre
Cost per person: $6 (cost of 2 soft drinks and finger food)

RSVP: This event is by invitation only.
As there are LIMITED seats, prior registration is required.
To get an invitation - please email [pelangipridecentre at yahoo dot com] with your name (in full), contact number, the name/s of your guests.

---

HIV: A Volunteer's Journey

You may know that HIV is now generally considered a chronic disease by the medical establishment. With Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART), having HIV is no longer considered a death sentence. In fact, if you look at the ads for HAART in men's magazines, you would usually see a couple of buffed, good-looking men enjoying life.

Some are saying that these are part of the reason/s more people are not using condoms.

"New infections in Singapore, with a population of 4.6million, rose to 456 in 2008 from 242 in 2003" - Health Ministry statistics.

"The numbers they announced are probably much lower than the numbers they have" - Francoise Barre-Sinoussi, winner of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Medicine for her discovery of the virus that causes AIDS.

"I have seen too many AIDS patients die. Most die alone. There is no warmth, no care for them. They are not ready to die - you see it in their eyes. I told myself I had to do something worthwhile for myself and for the cause - to clear the path for future patients, so they will not die like that." - Paddy Chew (March 29, 1960 to August 2, 1999), the first Singaporean to come out as having HIV/AIDS.

About the Speaker:

Gwo Yinn trained as a Civil Engineer and now works as a Workplace Safety and Health Officer on construction sites. He has been a volunteer in the community since 2005, amongst which are Assisi Hospice, Action for Aids, Oogachaga and Pelangi Pride Centre.

During the session, he will share with you his journey of volunteering in the field of HIV/AIDS. In the process, he hopes that you will gain a new understanding of what a person with HIV has to deal with everyday in terms of acceptance, disclosure, school and work, health and leisure.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Hi and welcome to our Frequently Asked Questions!

GENERAL INFO

1) What is Pelangi Pride Centre (PPC)?

PPC is a resource space and library for sexual minorities in Singapore. We have an extensive library of fiction, non-fiction, reference, Chinese and local books which can be borrowed or read within our premises. We also have resources for HIV-related materials.

2) Where is PPC located?

PPC is located at 41A Neil Road (venue sponsored by DYMK).

3) What are your operating hours?

PPC is open Saturdays from 4-8pm, we usually have event days on the 2nd Saturday of the month.

4) How do I get more information about PPC?

You can visit our website, browse this blogsite or join us on Facebook or Twitter. You can also email us at pelangipridecentre@yahoo.com

5) Do you have a contact number?

Yes, please do ring us between 4-8pm Saturdays at 8410 3938

LIBRARY

1) What books can I borrow at PPC?

We have an extensive range of books ranging from the academic to fiction titles. Some of our more popular books deal with relationships, coming-out as well as fiction titles. We also have an extensive collection on HIV-related issues.

2) Does PPC have an Online Catalogue?

Yes we do! Please visit www.pelangipridecentre/library/opac

3) How many books can I borrow and for how long?

You can borrow up to 2 titles from the library (excluding reference materials) for a period of 2 weeks.

4) Do I have to pay for the books?

We collect a small book deposit of $10 per book borrowed (2 titles =$20), which is returned when the book is returned, so in its essence, borrowing books at PPC is free.

5) What if I cannot return the books on time?

In the event that books cannot be returned on time, we will collect a nominal fee of $2 per week it is overdue. These funds will be re-channelled to buy new books for the library.

DONATION OF BOOKS

1) Can I donate my books to PPC?

We will be happy to receive your donations of LGBTQ related books. Please visit our Online Catalogue to see if we already have a copy of the book, and donate titles that we don't have. Or you can email us (pelangipridecentre@yahoo.com) a list of the books you have and we can run through them and let you know which titles to donate to us. We apologise that we cannot take all donations due to limitations in shelf-space.

VOLUNTEERING

1) Can I volunteer at PPC?

Please do! PPC is a solely volunteer-run space and hence we are always on the lookout for new and good help! Please email us at pelangipridecentre@yahoo.com for more information.

New Books at PPC!

Hi everyone

We have loads of new books at PPC! Here are some of our new titles!

The Transgender Child - A Handbook for Families and Professionals

Lesbians at Midlife - The Creative Transition

Invisible Trade - High class sex for Sale in Singapore

The Testosterone Files - My Hormonal and Social Transformation

Beloved Daughter - Family Letter Project

The First Time - Women Speak Out about "Loosing Their Virginity"

Same Sex in the City - So Your Prince Charming is really a Cinderella

Between Mom and Jo

Lesbian Couples - Creating Healthy Relationship for the 90s

Finding the Boyfriend Within - A Practical Guide for Tapping into Your Own Source of Love ...

The Lesbian S/M Safety Manual

Our online catalogue can be found at www.pelangipridecentre.org/library/opac

Take care!

The PPC Team

More Free Books!

Hi everyone

I know it's post-CNY but we're still spring cleaning :) and we have more books to release to the community!

Here are some of the titles:

Calendar Girl - Stella Duffy

Tea - Stacey D'Erasmo

Monopolies of Loss - Adam Mars-Jones

The Beautiful Room is Empty - Edmund White

A Boy's Own Story - Edmund White

Almost History - Christopher Bram

The Boys on the Rock - John Fox

Hold Tight - Christopher Bram

In Memory of Angel Clare - Christopher Bram

Father of Frankenstein - Christopher Bram

She Came by the Book - Mary Wings

Godspeed - Lynn Breedlove

Running Fiercely Toward a High Thin Sound - Judith Katz

Bound in Blood: The Erotic Journey of a Vampire - David Thomas Lord

The Object of My Affection - Stephen McCauley

A Home at the End of the World - Michael Cunningham

and many more...

So come by on Saturdays and pick these books up together with your new book loans/returns!

Take care!

The PPC Team

Recruiting Volunteers!

Hi everyone

As you may know, PPC is run solely by volunteers and we're in need of new pairs of hands to help us with the space! :)

PPC volunteers usually help out with the running of our LGBTQ library (we have over 1000 books!) so that will include general librarian work (loans/returns, shelving, cataloging and wrapping of books and so on).

In addition, when we have events, volunteers usually help out with registration and whatever is necessary! :)

Training will be provided so don't worry if you don't know how to run a library, in addition, you will also be partnered with someone who has more experience.

Volunteers only need to help out one Saturday a month (or every other month, depending on your schedule) from 4-8pm.

If you're able to help out, please email us at pelangipridecentre@yahoo.com

Thanks!

The PPC Team

PPC now on Google Maps!

Hi everyone

Yaayy! We are now on Google Maps! Simply type in "pelangi pride centre singapore" in Google or on Google Maps and out pops our location and other details.

Do let your friends who have yet to visit us know yah?

Take care and see you back at PPC on 20 Feb!

The PPC Team

Closed on 13 Feb for CNY Break!

Hi everyone

We will be taking a short break this Saturday, 13 Feb for the Lunar New Year holidays and will re-open on 20 Feb from 4-8pm.

Wishing all our friends who celebrate Chinese New Year, Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Huat ah! :)

The PPC Team

Ring Us!

Hi everyone

Just to share that PPC now has a mobile number so you can ring us if you need assistance on our location, renew books etc! We are reachable at +65 8410 3938 between the hours of 4-8pm every Saturday!

Take care!

FREE Books!

Hi everyone

Thanks to the generosity of the community, we're over-run with certain titles and hence we are donating these books back to members of the public. The next time you're at PPC, check out our FREE Books box and take whichever titles that catch your fancy.

At the moment, we have books like "Last Watch of the Night", "Becoming a Man" both by Paul Monette, "The Culture of Desire" by Frank Browning, "Accidental Activist" by Candace Gingrich and many others... first come, first served! :)

See you at PPC!

Event - Coming Home: Discussions from Abroad

6 of February 2010 @ PELANGI PRIDE CENTRE

"Coming Home: Discussions from Abroad"

Details at a Glance
Date: 6 February 2010 (Sat)
Time: 4pm
Venue: Pelangi Pride Centre
Cost per person: $6 (cost of 2 soft drinks and finger food)

RSVP: This event is by invitation only.
As there are LIMITED seats, prior registration is required.
To get an invitation - please email [pelangipridecentre at yahoo dot com] with your name (in full), contact number, the name/s of your guests.

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Coming Home: Discussions from Abroad

To discuss the experiences of people who have gone abroad and come back to Singapore. Unscripted and unrehearsed, come listen and share in the experiences of gay Singaporeans who have seen the other side of the fence and have decided to come home. What are their feelings about coming home?

Where is home? Is it tied to a physical location?

What is home? How do you define it?

Why do you call Singapore home?

Can you be an openly gay person in Singapore?

Who should attend this event?

Those who have always wondered what is it like on the other side of the fence and adjustments, differences and experiences of those who have lived aboard. Those that are in transition, those that have gone abroad and back and those that are still searching for the meaning of home.

Panel Members

Leow Yangfa graduated after 3 years of study at Royal Holloway, University of London, United Kingdom. Since returning to Singapore in 1999, he has been working & volunteering in the social services sector. He is also a proud uncle to 5 princesses who were born in 3 different countries.

Aaron Ho is a PhD candidate and studied under Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick. He taught at Queens College, City University of New York and is published in _Genders_ and _General Themes in Literature_ (forthcoming). He is interested in Darwinism, film studies, Victorian literature, Singapore gay history, queer theories and men.

Nicholas Deroose is currently a Journalism Junior at Temple Univeristy Philadelphia and is about to head off for a semester in Shanghai where he will no doubt have a fabulous time.

Leona Lo
Amazing transgender activist

Event - 11 days North East Thailand with 3 gay men and 2 lesbians

30 of January 2010 @ PELANGI PRIDE CENTRE

Pelangi Pride Centre presents - "11 days North East Thailand with 3 gay men and 2 lesbians"

Details at a Glance
Date: 30 January 2010 (Sat)
Time: 4pm
Venue: Pelangi Pride Centre
Cost per person: $6 (cost of 2 soft drinks and finger food)

RSVP: This event is by invitation only.
As there are LIMITED seats, prior registration is required.
To get an invitation - please email [pelangipridecentre at yahoo dot com] with your name (in full), contact number, the name/s of your guests.

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11 days North East Thailand with 3 gay men and 2 lesbians

You may think that after seeing Angkor Wat and Borobudur, there are no more ancient cities to top them. Well you are wrong. You need to go to Esaan.

*Descending the 15 naga stairways towards the prang of Phanom Rung
*Finding 500bahts in toilet of a restaurant run by sistas in Phimai
*Noodle soup next to ancient ruins of Lopburi
*Getting lost within a banyan tree in Sai Ngam
*Dancing amongst sunflowers in the plains of Khao Jeen Lae
*Phad thai, pink century eggs, kai yeang and khao niaow on the night train up north.
*The white temple and golden toilets of Chiangrai's Wat Rong Khun
*Checking out a temple of silver in Wualai Road
*Learning how to cook a vegetarian feast from Mai Kaidee
*And singing My Way in a karaoke bear bar in Bangkok


At the end of last year, 5 guys and girls scooted off to Bangkok and spent the next 11 days exploring the North East Thailand, aka Esaan, a land of rich history and human poverty. Yeah, it was rough at times trying to sleep on public buses and trains. Sometimes, you even have to yell at fellow backpackers to "Knock it off!!" In a harsh land of dry infertile soil, people descended
from the Khmers still try to eke a living there; while sending their children overseas for a better life as unskilled migrant workers. And a most heartwarming surprise was discovering how transgender people are so well accepted in the rural society.

Getting out of the 1000baht per night comfort zone meant sleeping in quaint guesthouses, learning to wait for the bus, getting to eat street hawker food in night markets, meeting the friendly locals, contributing to local economy at the most direct level; and looking out for by including each other into your personal space.

Of course, when you put 3 gay men and 2 lesbians together for 11 days & 10 nights, you will get a lot of talk of size, shapes, curves, colour, hair, chubs, monks, sistas, mei nu ........ which will be featured.

Come and see for yourself what a great time we had!

Event Day Postponed!

Hi everyone

Sorry we'll be postponing Event Day because we need more time to organise the event. More details will be out shortly. In the meantime, come by and visit us on Sat, 16 Jan from 4-8pm.

Take care!