YOH Head Butt! - PinkDot 2010 Edition

13 May 2010

Hey Everyone, 

So we over did it a little - with our YOH blog in a shade of pink to coincide with this big community event that is happening in less than two days! But we can all use a little pink in our lives. In case you've been living under a rock for the past whole month, everyone in the community is gearing for the one big event this saturday, but before we all get carried away with PinkDot this year, HEADBUTT wants to inform you about the rest of the other community events that might have swept underneath your radar amidst all this pink fairy dust flying all over...

What's UP?

Many Single Men (MSM)

Many Single Men, is a TWO Days workshop that provides a safe space for single individuals to explore and discover more of themselves; relationships; elements of dating as well as negotiated safety.

Details are as follows: 

Date - 29 May 2010 and 5 Jun 2010 (Both Saturdays)
Time - 2pm to 5pm
Fee - $25.00 per pax (for both days)
Age - 18 years old and above

For more information and registration form, please visit - http://www.oogachaga.com/manysinglemen

Singapore AIDS Candlelight Memorial 2010

The memorial is a reminder to all Singaporeans that HIV/AIDS is still a scourge that we need to be aware of and to find ways of dealing with the stigma, discrimination and other issues such as unemployment and financial difficulties. The Memorial is also a community call to action to always keep in mind those living with HIV/AIDS and to find ways to make their lives better and meaningful.

Details are as follows:

Date - 16 May 2010, Sunday
Time - 7pm to 9pm
Venue - Telok Ayer Hong Lim Green Community Centre Open Stage @ Hong Lim Park - 20 Upper Pickering Street, 058284

For more information, please visit: http://www.afa.org.sg

Conversations Between Father & Son

If you have been following local community news lately, you'll know that a section of our community have been met with constant prejudice and bombardment of discrimination, especially in the clubs. In response the transgender women have formed up a community group called 'Sisters in Solidarity'. And if you do believe that that all humans should be treated equally, Sisters in Solidarity needs your help and sign a petition. In addition, one of the main founders of Sisters in Solidarity, Marla Bendini is having multimedia installation performance with paintings, paying tribute to the artist's father. 

Details are as follows:

Date - May 13th, 2010, Thursday. Exhibition ends on May 22nd 2010

Time - 6.30pm til late, performance by Marla Bendini 7.30pm
Venue - The Substation Gallery, 45 Armenian Street, Singapore 179936

To sign the Petition - please visit:http://endtransgenderdiscrimination.wordpress.com/sign-our-petition/

For more information, please visit: http://marlabendini.com

PinkDot 2010

10 tips to help you 'enjoy' PinkDot 2010 

Some of you maybe first timers to the event, and some of you are super excited about it from the loads of fun you've had at last year's event. Nonetheless YOH have put together a list of 10 tips for you to enjoy PinkDot 2010 to the max!

1. Dress code is PINK: So come in a pink tee, tank top, cap, shirt, overalls, underwear, shoes or in any of those combi. We know pink may not be the IN colour of the season now, but take a good hunt around the tee shirt shops around Bugis Junction, there are definite steals to be found. 
2. You'll look good in pink: Oh you may think you look dumb and stupid (or too gay) in a pink top, the feeling quickly dissipates when you realise you're not the only one wearing it on the actual event.
3. Leave your barang barang at home: we mean leave your big barang barang of your tote & messenger bags and stuff in the car or at home. Go to the event light and you'll find that there's more freedom in mingling with the crowds and getting in the photos with your friends without the weight of your bag weighing you down.
4. Bring your essentials with you: this list is not mandatory for everyone: Water bottles, tissues to wipe your sweat (or in some cases, your facial blotting paper), your pink umbrella (in case the weather turns foul), your digital camera / camcorder (believe us, you'll wanna be taking photos and videos), sunglasses (it's an outdoor event, caps / hats (if you need the extra patch to cover a bald spot)
5. Ask your LGBT friendly mates along for this: It's not a GAY only event, it's an event for everyone, and we're sure if you're mates are with you, PinkDot will be a momentous and significant event that you'll look back with GLEE! And with the focus on FAMILY this year, bring your supportive family members down for this event!
6. In case you do 'lose' your friends during the event, feel free to make friends with people around you! (Have your cell phone around too..)
7. Be prepared to go slightly crazy. It's a fun filled almost carnival like event, leading up to the moment where the PinkDot is formed.
8. Prepare a PinkDot picnic basket if you and your friends are thinking of settling down on a spot, underneath the trees and just having a picnic. There is the Hong Lim Temporary Hawker Centre near by should you feel thirsty or hungry prior to the event.
9. Nearest MRT Stations to get to Hong Lim Park are Clarke Quay MRT or Chinatown MRT. There are directional signs from both MRT stations to lead you to Hong Lim Park. 
10. ENJOY YOURSELF!

Here are the details should you need it - 

DATE - 15th MAY 2010, Saturday
TIME - 5pm
VENUE - Hong Lim Park

For more information, please visit: http://pinkdotsg.blogspot.com/

YOH is proud to be promoting PinkDot 2010. 

We'll See You There!

Till the next HEADBUTT,

Take Care, 

YOH

YOH Head Butt! - Ugly Betty Edition

12 May 2010

Hey Everyone, 

Firstly a huge big sorry for the long hiatus that HEADBUTT took (were we gone for over a month?). Things in YOH have gotten a little way busy over our heads with YOH4 currently underway. We're now back, gonna keep you all updated with the latest happenings and to stir up some discussion about relevant queer youth topics. 

In keeping to the one of the big topics that was handled just last week during the YOH4session - One Foot In, Both Feet Out, this edition of HEADBUTT takes a look back at one of the most beloved TV drama comedy amongst the YOH team. No, we've done our fair deal about the ever popular GLEE (we are very proud to say that we started the trend in one of the earliest HEADBUTT editions). It's UGLY BETTY! 

We know that the show has since been canned and not returning, though we are keeping our finger crossed for a MOVIE to be made. However if you have been following UGLY BETTY in its last season, you know that Betty's favourite nephew, Justin Suarez, came of age, kissed a boy, danced with him and came out to his family members - all within the last four episodes of the series. Ok, so it didn't generate as big a deal as when Kurt Hummel came out to his dad in GLEE, but after watching the series for over three seasons, Justin Suarez, as a character, became a hero pretty much in all our hearts. So this HEADBUTTedition, we want to take the time and salute - Justin Suarez!

Justin crawled into our hearts by having the utmost love for his family and especially his mom, Hilda, and at the same time being fashionably forward and never giving up on his dreams to be an actor. Yeap, fighting bullies in school, facing pressure to be the 'macho guy' and hiding one's true sexuality are probably issues that some of us go through - but to see him grow up as a character, overcome his fears of rejection and being true to himself really made Season Four of UGLY BETTY worth watching. 

Of course we can't keep our eyes tears free when he reached out his hands and asked his date, Austin, for a dance at his own mom's wedding - thus silently coming out to his family members. We're not advocating you to do the same, but perhaps there are lessons to be learnt from this boy - but instead of us telling you what it is - it is up for discussion. And we wouldn't go anywhere without showing you the moments that really moved us. (bring out the tissues...)

Justin / Austin (Part One) - "If you kiss someone with feelings, they know it and you know it. It's like everything else goes grey and you're the only two people left in the whole world" - 

Justin / Austin (Part Two) - "You are who you are & the sooner you're okay with that...the happier you're gonna be" - 

Justin / Austin (Part Three) - "Shoes are for fashion, not function..." -



MUST WATCH - Justin / Austin (Part Four) - "If you don't want anyone to know, they don't have to know...you don't have to say a word until you're ready." -



MUST WATCH - Justin / Austin (Part Five) - "When the time is right, you'll just know..." -



Justin / Austin (Final Part) - 

If you are still reading this (and not sniffing away to Renee Olstead's A Love That Will Last), we would like to hear your comments and views about you've just watched in right here...

Till the next HEADBUTT, 

Take care, 

YOH

YOH HEADBUTT - pinkdot.sg Edition

31st March 2010

Hey Everyone,
Before we get all buzzed up for the above mentioned event, we need to plug our YOH core programme for a while:

Step OUT with YOH!

We've gotten overwhelming response for the applications for the fourth run of YOH. (ok, maybe not overwhelming, but it was a certain leap from the number we've gotten from YOH3) If you are one of the very lucky ones that applied for YOH4, you should be hearing from us soon via email. Also, if you have been to one of the conversational interviews that we've started, and are impressed by the programme line up for YOH4, you have till the end of today to tell your friends all about it and ask them to join! More details at the end of this edition of HEADBUTT!

By the way, the magical number is over 50, if you are just wondering how many applicants.

Now onto the pinkie dottie event that is sure to set a few smiles on your face...

pinkdot 2010

It's that time of the year again where all good things come in the shade of PINK. 2,500 people turned up last year in varying shades of the pastel colour to express their thoughts towards the freedom to love. I'm sure most of you still have the pink tees that are probably sitting at the back of the closet, time to air those things out, cos this year's pinkdot event is gonna get bigger. So what do you have to know?

DATE - 15th MAY 2010
TIME - 5pm
VENUE - Hong Lim Park
Wear - any pink top!
More details here: http://www.pinkdotsg.blogspot.com/

But pinkdot can't get bigger without your help, and since this year's event falls on the International Day of Families, so it's only befitting that you call on your family members, close friends and buddies to come down for this event. And if you are part of the previous runs of YOH, we'll be organising a mini gathering to head down to the event as a group - so you'll never have to walk alone. Bring your cameras, your video cameras, your enthusiasm, (probably abit of sunscreen) and mark down your calendars cos we (YOH) will hope to see you at this year's pinkdot!

And if you need help inspiring your fellow friends to come down for this year's event - here's a blogpost that truly defied gravity (we could do more of such people around): excerpts from: http://tauhuayboy.wordpress.com/2010/03/29/im-a-christian-and-i-love-my-glbt-friends/

"....I’m sorry, but I don’t see anything wrong with loving my fellow human beings. My religion has also taught me to love people who different from me. Okay, while I accept that different denominations have different stance on this issue, we all share the same God, who taught us the same things.

While I don’t have to support GLBT’s actions and values, I respect their rights as a fellow human being. They are not any different from you and me...."

To end this pastel shaded edition of HEADBUTT!, we'll leave you with the beautiful songs from Jonsi (gay front man of the group Sigur Ros) - here's a first look at his new solo album titled 'Go'. Here's the full album streaming available here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125217376

For More info about YOH:

• Twitter: young_out_here
• Blog: young-out-here.blogspot.com
• Facebook: tinyurl.com/youngouthere
• To join YOH4: tinyurl.com/yoh4join

till the next edition of HEADBUTT,

Take Care,

YOH

YOH Head Butt! - Inspire-Me Edition

16th March 2010
Hi Everyone, 

It's mid month and news around Singapore have been surrounding a certain famous director having his own Tiger Woods fiasco - which brought up the whole public / personal privacy issue by people. Is 'Public' the new default for this current generation? Well instead of boring you with such a argument here, we'll probably take this offline and hear your comments during the upcoming sessions of YOH4. Moving on...

If your mind has been stuck on some problems and can't seem to get your head around it  - this HEADBUTT is for you.Sometimes this little scribe here also can't seem to find a relevant topic to write about for each HEADBUTT. However that being said, INSPIRATION comes in mysterious ways.... Here are some ideas for you if you are stuck in a runt in your head and want to get out of it.

SIX ways to get your creative juices moving...

• Take a 48 hour Computer Vacation - Yes that's right - it should possibly be the hardest thing to do since we're all so dependent on Internet to get things done. No Facebook, no L4D2, no Twitter, no checking of emails via your smartphones and Blackberries, no Google - just hang loose and go out and breath some non-radioactive air (well, no Wireless-Sg signal air). 
• Try Meditation - Listening to your inner thoughts and sounds and voices might be a good way to drown out all the external noise that is blocking your creative soul. and Meditation doesn't mean taking a nap or counting 'Z' monsters....
• Change the Scenery - This is not just about lifting yourself out from a physical zone that is causing a blockage in your creative mind, it's also about rearranging your current workspace. Less clutter in your physical space also means less clutter in your head. If not, you can always get up, spend ten minutes dusting bookshelves, reading your favourite tabloid magazine or just make silly faces in front of the mirror (tried and tested). 
• Stop looking at the clock - Yes, there are deadlines to be met. and that ticking of the clock doesn't seem to be slowing things down for you - but it's making your heart beat faster and sweat coming out from your palms. Cover them up and focus on just getting the work done and ignore those deadline constraints abit. 
• Press the 'I'm Feeling Lucky' button - Yeap ever wondered what Lord Google will bring up to your screen? Instead of going through lists and lists of your search results, pressing the often ignored button may yield surprising results and also may lead your to more hidden treasure that you may not have expected.  
• just for added inspiration - look towards the pure young innocence of kids (this is not exactly a tip, but this bunch of 5th Graders in New York just recently inspired this writer) - Choral group PS22 - performing Alicia Keys' 'Empire State of Mind'.  Check out other videos from the group in their Youtube page and be surprised...

What's UP?

HIV: A Volunteer's Journey

Pelangi Pride Centre presents a talk by Gwo Yinn, sharing about his experiences that he has gone through as a volunteer who's worked with HIV positive people. More details are as follows:

Date - 27 March 2010, Saturday

Time - 4pm

Venue - Pelangi Pride Centre

Admission - $6 (includes two drinks and finger food)

Register - pelangipridecentre@yahoo.com with Full name, Contact number and names of guests (if any)

More details - http://pelangipridecentre.blogspot.com/

pinkdot fundraising tea party

Pink Dot will be having its fundraising tea party on the last week of March. If you are feeling generous and wanting to make this year's pink dot bigger than last year's - do go down for it. More details are below:

Date - 28 March 2010, Sunday

Time - 330pm to 630pm

Venue - HOUSE / Barracks Cafe at Dempsey (8D Dempsey Road)

Attire - PINK

Admission - $50 (includes drinks and finger food)

More details - http://pinkdotsg.blogspot.com/2010/03/pinkdots-tea-party-fundraiser.html

Step OUT with YOH!

We can't make leave this HEADBUTT without plugging our own programme. YOH4 is slated to start end of April and we're now accepting registrations to join YOH4! If you know of a queer youth between the age of 16 to 21, do encourage them to hop on over to our blogsite for more info about YOH4 and if they want to sign up, go to tinyurl.com/yoh4join. Registrations close on 31st March 2010. 

For More info about YOH:

Twitter: young_out_here

Blog: young-out-here.blogspot.com

Facebook: tinyurl.com/youngouthere

To join YOH4: tinyurl.com/yoh4join

till the next edition of HEADBUTT, 

Take Care,

YOH

Step OUT with YOH!

There are only a limited number of spaces (15) in each run of YOH, so apply here today!

Closing date for registration: March 31^st 2010

YOH Head Butt! - L-O-V-E Edition

03 March 2010

Hey Everyone, 

we hope every one is recovering from the pigging out that was the Lunar New Year's and Valentine's Day. Here at YOH, we certainly had our loads of festive fun with the traditional Lo-Hei and a fun evening out at Games Haven. Thanks to all that turned up for it. 

So why is HEAD BUTT having its L-O-V-E edition after Valentine's Day? Well there couldn't be a better time isn't it? To give you an indication, just take a look around at the newspapers (or online news) - with the double tragedies at Chile and Haiti, and all the humanitarian aid that is needed from international agencies to get the affected areas back on their feet, it does put our lives here in safe Singapore into perspective - be it our relationships with our parents, with friends or with the community. Of course being appreciative of what we have is just one part of the equation, doing what we can to help to make our lives a better one is the other. No we don't have to start singing 'We Are the World', but just take some time off your busy busy schedule - BREATHE, and make a genuine effort in making someone else smile (*cues 'Smile by' Glee Cast*)

5 Simple Ways to Show that U Care:

• Have a Break, Share a Kit Kat (okay, we know that's not the tagline, but go with us on this) - Buying a favourite snack and sharing it with your loved ones maybe a small gesture, but we all know that sometimes 'Action Speaks Louder than Words'. So drop your phone, drop your laptop (not literally) and instead of sending a 'How are You' text, share how much you are appreciative of that person or people (or even your pet) buy sharing a snack!
• Pick up your phone and call - remember what our phones were originally invented for before smart phones and IM-ing (or Grindr) came along? If you are too busy to do the first tip, don't send an IM message, don't even send an email and certainly don't send a Facebook / Twitter direct msg or anything that has to go through a third party social network. Dial the number and ask 'How are things going?'. You may be surprised at the answers you may get, and you'll never know what is hidden behind all the 'I'm fine' answer we get all the time.
• Sharing is Caring - the last tip brings us to THIS tip: Sometimes when all we have enough is to breath for ourselves, we tend to forget everybody else. Even the customary 'We'll catch up' line becomes overused and we never do it in the end. When was the last time you poured out your inner insecurities over coffee to your loved ones? We've become masters in building up walls through our fervent use of  technology that we assume that our 'status updates' show everything we need to know about a person. WRONG! If you feel that sometimes the going gets too tough for you (before you are pulling your pubic hair out), start reaching out to a trustworthy friend and lean on them for a while...(*cues 'Lean On Me' by Glee Cast*)
• Undivided Attention - The last tip wouldn't be effective without this following one - Yeap, no incoming Tweets, or Status updates, or trailing eyes on the cutest and hottest babe/hunk that just walked past. Just take some time out and LISTEN. Even if you are in the midst of a busy meeting, or your project mates threatened to delete off your hard work in your hard drive, remember to take a pause and say that you'll call back & make sure you do remember to do so.
• HUG - we think this last tip needs further no explanation at all. Just believe in the power of the HUG, and soon you'll be the one feeling all better (whether you are the one giving it or the one receiving it).

What's UP?

After all that helpful tips, and in line with our theme: here's what's coming your way in the community:

The Love Potion: For Lasting Same Sex Romantic Relationships

Oogachaga presents a workshop for all you seeking to maintain a healthy relationship. Details are as follows:

Date - 13 March 2010, Saturday

Time - 2pm to 5pm

Venue - 15 Philip Street, #03-00, Tan Ean Kiam Building.

Admission - FOC (please register at events@oogachaga.com to get your best seat!) 

For more info - please head to this link - http://www.oogachaga.com/node/181

pinkdot 2010

Remember the big fun under the sun we had last year during this event, pinkdot this year promises to be even bigger! This year, pinkdot honours the scared bonds of family kinship. So mark down your calendars & and bring your loved ones down for a pink ole' time. Details are as follows:

Date - 15 May 2010, Saturday

For more info - please head to this link - http://www.facebook.com/pinkdot

YOH4

lastly, YOH4 is coming up and we want YOU (if you meet the age requirements that is) to be joining in. More details will be given in the following three days. In the meantime, if you do know people that would interested to join YOH4, point them towards this link to sign up - http://young-out-here.blogspot.com/p/joining-yoh.html

Until the next edition of HEADBUTT!

Take Care, 

YOH