29
Warning – This will make you wanna go to Rome, now!
Room in Rome is Julio Medem’s (the creator of ‘Sex and Lucia’) first English-language film and it’s based on Matias Bize’s In the Bed. In the original, a man and a woman share a night of passion and carelessly-spilled secrets. Modem’s adaptation promises all of the passion and all of the secrets — only this time it happens in Rome, between two women.
15
Scientists have discovered a species of ant that has eliminated males from their community. The Mycocepurus smithii, is “a fungus-gardening ant native to South America that reproduces asexually and without any males whatsoever”, hence a lesbian ant, so says LOTL Digital.
Last I checked lesbianism is a sexual preference and therefore, unless ants have a sexual preference to whom they want to mate with, ants can’t be lesbians. Right? Do the ants foolishly date primarily within their own circle of friends, listen to over emotional chick music, have a penchant for film, photography or feminism, wear fedora hats and steel toe caps or smoke Marlboro Lights? No. They are just a species of ant which reproduces ‘asexually’.
I know we all want to find a scientific justification or evidence in nature that homosexuality is ‘natural’ and ‘normal’ but calling an ant lesbian is just ridiculous….It’s like the story, in terms of ridiculous interpretations, I read yesterday on someone’s FB wall that a goat was still born with the face of a human and that it might be the result of copulation between a man and a ewe. No, people. Just, no. Then again, science can at times be weirder than fiction.
The more important question is, why did the female ants get rid of their male counterparts to begin with? Was it because they kept forgetting to put the toilet seat down (thanks Alex, for that one)? : )
07
I posted this note today on FB – the wiki definition for pansexuality –
“Pansexuality, or omnisexuality[1] is a sexual orientation, characterized by the potential for aesthetic attraction, romantic love, or sexual desire towards people, regardless of their gender identity or biological sex. Some pansexuals suggest that they are gender-blind; that gender and sex are insignificant or irrelevant in determining whether they will be sexually attracted to others.[2] For others, an individual’s sex, gender expression, or gender identity can be a key factor of attraction, despite the pansexual individual’s wide range of sex and gender attractions.”
My immediate thought was, like a friend’s comment, was that actually the definition sounded what I thought was a definition for bisexuality. I just can’t grasp this idea that pansexual people are attracted to others regardless of their gender. What does this actually mean? That somehow pansexual people do not have pre-conceived notions of conventional gender identities? That they do not have a concept of man or woman or other, as the case may be? Or does it mean that pansexuals simply do not recognise that gender has an identity at all?
And the more I thought about it and tried to explain to a friend what/who I am attracted to, as a lesbian (which, to clarify, is defined as a woman who is attracted to other women and prefers, at least most of the time, to have sex with women) the more I found myself tangled up in the binary language of our world, not least the language of sexuality. Like, I said, I like women who are, you know, women. What does that mean? Well, I like feminine women. Ay! I fell into the first trap. Ok, but I also like women who are in control and independent, women who defy the conventional attributes of their gender. Ay! Second pitfall. I thought, well, as a lesbian I have both male and female traits, that’s what makes me a lesbian and that’s what I like in others! Ayyyyyy! Third banana peel.
Gender identity and sexual preference, we have all been learning about this year, are totally different things.And all these compartmentalising labels and sub-sections are starting to drive me crazy.
Based on the above I’m not even sure if I can identify my gender identity or sexuality without being accused of being closed-minded and conventional, worse still, simply wrong. Ugh. I always thought I was on the fringe, alternative, edgy and well, liberal. Never has being a lesbian identified woman ever been so not alternative and so not cool.
If I try again to describe the kind of person I like without falling into a political minefield of correctness, I’d say – I like people with big brains, a great sense of humour and real pussy and real breasts. Oops, now that wasn’t very PC after all. OK OK OK so that was a little crude. But I guess my point is that regardless of how I describe what attracts me and in what terms, I would not at all, pit those requirements against a man, identified male or otherwise. Alas I guess that either confirms how shallow and close-minded I am or that I am truly a lesbian and not a pansexual lesbian.
29
2009 was a year of surprises and not all good. Well for me anyway. I kinda felt it was disheartening, dis-empowering and disillusioning. It started, as all years do, with so much promise and ended up being one of the most disappointing years of my life. This is no exaggeration. It’s a year I felt like I had a grasp of the reigns and then I guess I squeezed too hard. Yet it had some major plus points, some great times, new friends, amazing new experiences and some mammoth challenges which I’m sure will make me a better person: ) I guess the music I was listening to will reflect the roller coaster that was 2009. It’s been emotional. Thank you, thank you, thank you very much.
5 albums released this year which I downloaded, acquired or ripped from kind friends –
1. The XX – XX
2. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz
3. Metric- Fantasies
4. Tegan and Sara – Sainthood
5. Bjork – Voltaic
5 other albums which have been on repeat –
1. John Coltrane – Lush Life
2. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever
3. Slumdog Millionaire OST
4. Tegan and Sara – the Con
5. Ne-Yo – Year of the Gentleman
What was the soundtrack to your 2009?
21
Just as you thought lesbian visibility could not get any lower and your own lifestyle could not be any less invalid, disregarded, dismissed and more celebrated as a heterosexual male fantasy, just as you thought you had become completely invisible, Venice, a new lesbian centric web series, saves the day.
Created by and stars Daytime Emmy Award-winning actress Crystal Chappell, who played Olivia in CBS’s Guiding Light. “Chappell was so overwhelmed by the positive response from viewers all over the world that she partnered with her screenwriter friends KIm Turisi and Hope Royaltey to keep some of the energy generated by Otalia alive”.
The story is set in Venice, California and follows the life and loves of Gina and stars many familiar faces from the daytime television world including Jessica Leccia who played Natalia.
The L Word may be dead and gone, but that doesn’t mean the rest of us have to die with it. Merry Christmas!
25
The annual campaign to end violence against women starts today with International Day Against Violence Against Women. 16 Days of Activism (25th Nov until 10th Dec) this year focuses on putting an end to all gender violence. Throughout the world and Malaysia, people will come together over the next 16 days to raise awareness through various protests and events. One such event is Project Sentuh: Seksualiti & Tubuh, jointly organised by JAG – a coalition of NGOs – AWAM, SIS, EMPOWER and WAO, a devised performance piece which will touch on issues of sexuality, gender norms and body autonomy, will be showcased for the community FRINJAN, Shah Alam on the 5th December. Participants involved in the performance include Mien Lor, Julya Oui and Ayam Fareed. For more information on how you can get involved or participate visit the AWAM website or Take Back The Tech
24
So I just sent a message inviting people to attend Pink Triangle Foundation’s Fabulous Gala Dinner on the 12th December. If you didn’t know, PT Foundation is a community-based, voluntary non-profit making organisation providing HIV/AIDS education, prevention, care and support programmes, sexuality awareness and empowerment programmes for vulnerable communities in Malaysia mainly drug users, sex workers, transsexuals, men who have sex with men (MSM), and people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).
PT has long been associated as an LGBT organisation simply because the communities it serves and who are affected most by HIV and AIDS are predominantly PLU or LGBTs. Back in the day it actually did provide a programme specifically for women run by women in the community. I think it was a counseling group. The reality is that because PTF are funded primarily by the Ministry of Health and the Malaysia AIDS Council the work that they do is always HIV/AIDS focus even though the services they often need to provide very often crosses into the boundaries of supporting LGBTs in general.
Which is what makes the organisation both vital and a major target for criticism depending on who’s perspective we are looking at it from. In my opinion, there is an opportunity here for PT Foundation to serve its core communities better. Although PT know they have their hands tied when it comes to working directly with LGBT issues, The Fabulous Gala Dinner is a major step in trying to build bridges between the LGBTs in Malaysia, especially lesbians, a demographic which has never really been on PT’s radar simply because statistically lesbians are at the lowest risk of being affected by HIV/AIDS. But actually, who has done the survey?
A lot of information is developed out of myth and not real research. Is there anyone in this country studying the lesbian demographic specifically to learn about lesbian health problems or social issues? Certainly nobody from the government that’s for sure. Health care specific to your individual needs is a human right and until society recognises that there may be a difference to what you require and what they think you need, your health, be it physical or mental, may actually be at risk. So how can we be recognised as a group which may or may not have specific needs when it comes to health or anything for that matter? We need to be represented and we need to start by representing ourselves.
To purchase tickets or for more info about the Fabulous Gala please email me theloudgirl@yahoo.co.uk
15
06
World AIDS Day is just around the corner (28th to 29th Nov) and Pink Triangle needs your help to stop stigma, discrimination and more unnecessary deaths. Click on the link above for more details on how to volunteer .
AIDS has killed more than 25 million people between 1981 and 2007,[1] and an estimated 33.2 million people worldwide live with HIV as of 2007,[2] making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 2 million lives in 2007,[3] of which about 270,000 were children.[4] (wikipedia)
Vital Stats –
What is HIV?
HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system – the body’s defence against diseases.
Are HIV and AIDS the same?
No. When someone is described as living with HIV, they have the HIV virus in their body. A person is considered to have developed AIDS when the immune system is so weak it can no longer fight off a range of diseases with which it would normally cope.
How is HIV passed on?
HIV can be passed on through infected blood, semen, vaginal fluids or breast milk.
The most common ways HIV is passed on are:
* Sex without a condom with someone living with HIV
* Sharing infected needles, syringes or other injecting drug equipment
* From an HIV-positive mother (to her child) during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding (but with effective treatment and care the risk of transmission can be greatly reduced)
I don’t know anyone with HIV… do I?
Today there are more people than ever before living with HIV in Malaysia, but less people report knowing someone with HIV. People with HIV generally look healthy and many do not find it easy to tell other people, so you may not realise if someone you know if HIV positive.
Is there a cure for HIV?
No, but treatment can keep the virus under control and the immune system healthy. People on HIV treatment can live a healthy, active life, although they may experience side effects from the treatment. If HIV is diagnosed late, treatment may be less effective.
How can I protect myself and others from HIV infection?
Always use a condom when having vaginal or anal sex. You also may want to use a condom or dental dam during oral sex although the risk of transmission of HIV is much lower. You can get free condoms from Pink Triangle. Never share needles, syringes or any other injecting equipment.
Information courtesy of http://www.worldaidsday.org/
