Math Paper Press published a new edition of Ng Yi Sheng's 2006 stories- 'SQ21: Singapore Queers in the 21st Century'. This December 2017 reprint comes with additional new material, and a foreword by editor Jason Wee, and a choice of covers in either black or white.
These stories ought to be told and shared. Even if they were recorded ten to twelve years ago. The issues remain, along with the complexities of family ties and relationships. 15 stories with real humans and faces. It includes a story told from a parent's perspective, the last story in the book- 'A Mother's Story: Khoo Hoon Eng', and here's an extract from her story.
The most telling moment was when we separated, about two and a half years ago. While we were going through the process of breaking up, the first thing he said to me was, "Good. Now that I have the chance to marry another woman, maybe my future children will not be gay."
Of all the nasty and hurtful things my husband said and did to me during that troubled time, I would deem that one of the worst. It still rankles with me today. My reaction, once I began to think about it more rationally, was, "How can you say that about our children? What's wrong with our children? Why would you even think that?" And later, "First of all, what's wrong with being gay? Secondly, is he trying to imply that it was my fault that the two boys are gay? So if he marries his girlfriend and has some other children, he can be sure they will not be gay?" I have to understand that it's all very difficult for men, especially misogynistic men who believe in the importance of a family line in "traditional Chinese" culture. My response to that kind of statement now would be "You should be so lucky if your future children, whether gay or not, are half as wonderful and loving human beings as the two sons we have."
I'm glad that Singapore society has progressed somewhat since the stories in this book were gathered. However, as long as Section 370A remains, it sticks us in the conservative spectrum. Still, it shouldn't make us stupid. Some facts are facts. Sexual orientation doesn't demonize a person. Gay marriages don't threaten heterosexual marriages. Check your own characters and relationships. It's sad when my country's laws don't accept gay marriages or gay adoption. The religious alternate right takes great pleasure in its vocal intolerance of the gay community. Being gay doesn't make you less loving or caring or morally upright as a tax-paying citizen in a country. You can be gay and not be a murderer or a thief. You can be a straight man, and still be sickeningly chauvinistic and misogynistic, and regardless of gender, you can also cheat on your partner when the opportunity arises, if you're so inclined. A straight warped human who's a pedophile is despicable, and so is someone who abuses another human in the name of religion. This is a never-ending list.
There're some things we will agree to disagree on, and still remain friends in a real sense, and there're many others where it will test the friendship, and likely break it. I've always made my stand clear when it comes to fundamental beliefs and values, and also make it clear that if you are racist, you discriminate against the LGBTIQA community and support ostracization or for criminal laws against them, we will not be friends, and we won't even be acquaintances. This year's Pink Dot Singapore is on 21 July.
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