Media release
March 13, 2014
For immediate release

The ASEAN SOGIE Caucus’ Affirms ‘We Are #ASEANtoo’
& Calls States And People to Support Inclusion of SOGIE in the ASEAN

March 13, 2014 - The ASEAN SOGIE Caucus (ASC) yesterday launched its ‘We are #ASEANtoo’ campaign on its social media sites in the lead up to the ASEAN People’s Forum that will take place in Burma from 21 to 23 March 2014. The social media campaign calls online users to show their support for the inclusion of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression (SOGIE) in the ASEAN by using the hashtag #ASEANtoo as they send supportive tweets and Instagrams.

In addition, the ASC released a summary of laws that discriminate against lesbians, gays, bisexuals, trans*, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) persons in the ASEAN. This is accompanied by online posters of the ASC’s recommendations to the ASEAN to promote and protect the rights of LGBTIQ persons. The posters can be found in eight major languages used in the ASEAN – Chinese, Filipino, Indonesian, Khmer, Malay, Tamil, Thai, and Vietnamese. The full recommendations can be found on the website.

“The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness regarding the ASC’s recommendations, which address some of the pressing issues concerning LGBTIQ persons in the ASEAN. The ASC calls the government of all ASEAN countries to repeal laws that discriminate against LGBTIQ persons and to comply with human rights standards, establish national level ASEAN mechanisms and review existing human rights instruments, and depathologize SOGIE,” said Hla Myat Tun, of Colors of Rainbow, Myanmar.

Every movement starts with the few who step out a little further than the rest, and change happens from there. By coming out and being visible as an LGBTQ person or ally, we encourage others to step out of their closets, too.

COuCH, which stands for Come Out Come Home, is a Sayoni community initiative to encourage and support LGBTQ persons and allies to come out or be more out than they already are. In particular, we hope to reach LGBTQ persons who are or are trying to be ready to come out.

The movement was inspired by studies which have shown that there are many positive effects when LGBTQ persons come out. This is also about celebrating the people – families, friends, and/or peers – who love, accept and support us, and thus encourage us to be out. COuCH aims to empower and provide visibility to the LGBTQ community and our allies. This helps the world understand that we are part of and play many different roles in society.

From 3 August 2013, genuine stories about Singaporeans coming out, as a queer person or ally, will be published and streamed online through a dedicated website (COuCH.sg) and its Facebook Page.

As one of Sayoni’s founders, Jean Chong, said at the launch of the movement at Indignation 2013 on Saturday, “We often talk about the need to dialogue with those on the opposing side... But the dialogue needs to start in our homes, with our community, with our friends, and most importantly with ourselves.”

We call on all LGBTQ persons and allies who can come out, wish to come out or feel they are ready to, to participate by sharing your photos and stories, uploading a video, making a pledge with us to come out, or contributing funds to support the initiative. The campaign peaks on 11 Oct, International Coming Out Day, with a special event.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

READ
Website: www.couch.sg
Facebook: www.facebook.com/couch2013

JOIN IN
Share, upload, pledge or contribute: www.couch.sg/participate

LINKS TO RESOURCES
Sayoni's Coming Out Guide: In PDF format / Hard copy format

As part of IndigNation 2013, Sayoni will be hosting two events. "Same-Sex Parenting: Raising New Standards" features a special afternoon with queer parents, while "Southeast Gaysia!" casts the spotlight on the little-known revolution happening in Asia.

We will also mark the launch of our new campaign, "Come Out Come Home", a movement to support all queer/LGBTIQ persons who wish to come out or be more out, and which celebrates and supports the allies who enable their LGBTIQ family, friends and colleagues to come out.

Here's the latest schedule. More info - and event links - can be found on the IndigNation Facebook page.


SATURDAY 3 AUG // 5PM
IndigNation 2013 Opening - Faith in the Future

SUNDAY 4 AUG // 2-6PM
Same-sex Parenting: Raising New Standards

FRIDAY 9 AUG // 5PM till late
Pink Picnic

SATURDAY 10 AUG // 8PM
I Will Survive with Music

THURSDAY 15 AUG // 8PM
Gaylien Invasion: A Night of LGBT Science Fiction

SUNDAY 18 AUG // 2-6PM
Be With Me: An OC Women workshop for women who love women

FRIDAY 23 AUG // 8PM
Akka (அக்கா): a reading of Singapore’s first queer Tamil play

SUNDAY 25 AUG // 3PM
Transcending Gender

SATURDAY 31 AUG // 4PM
Southeast Gaysia!

SATURDAY 31 AUG // 7:30PM
ContraDiction: an evening of LGBT literature

ABOUT INDIGNATION
IndigNation, an annual showcase of the Singapore LGBT community’s diversity, is now in its 9th edition.

Over the last eight years, IndigNation has showcased many facets of Singapore's LGBT community. From talks to film screenings, art exhibitions to illicit mass runs and flash mob picnics, Singapore’s homegrown Pride season has celebrated the visible and not-so-visible aspects of our country’s sexual minorities.

This year, our theme is "Faith in the Future", looking ahead to what possibilities there are for the LGBT community - not just about LGBT rights, but how we envision our future as LGBT people in Singapore.

Come and dream and hope together - because the only future we can have is the one we dare to dream of.